St. Augustine, bishop & doctor

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊      　

1 Thessalonians 4:9-11

 Regarding mutual love,

You do not need anyone to write to you, because God himself taught you how to love one another. You already practice it with all the brothers and sisters of Macedonia, but I invite you to do more. Consider how important it is to live quietly without bothering others, to mind your own business, and work with your hands, as we have charged you.

 

Ps 98:1, 7-8, 9

The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 25:14-30

Imagine someone who, before going abroad, summoned his servants to entrust his property to them. He gave five talents of silver to one, then two to another, and one to a third, each one according to his ability; and he went away.

He who received five talents went at once to do business with the money and gained another five.   The one who received two did the same and gained another two.  But the one with one talent dug a hole and hid his master’s money.

 After a long time, the master of those servants returned and asked for a reckoning. The one who received five talents came with another five talents, saying: ‘Lord, you entrusted me with five talents, but see I have gained five more with them.’  

 The master answered: ‘Very well, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in a few things, I will entrust you with much more. Come and share the joy of your master.’

 Then the one who had two talents came and said: ‘Lord, you entrusted me with two ta­l­ents; I have two more which I gained with them.’   The master said: ‘Well, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in little things, I will entrust you with much more. Come and share the joy of your master.’

 Finally, the one who had received one talent came and said: ‘Master, I know that you are an exacting man. You reap what you have not sown and gather what you have not invested.  I was afraid, so I hid your money in the ground. Here, take what is yours.’  

But his master replied: ‘Wicked and worthless servant, you know that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not invested.  Then you should have deposited my money in the bank, and you would have given it back to me with interest on my return.

 Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten.   For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who are unproductive, even what they have will be taken from them.  As for that useless servant, throw him out into the dark where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

 

Gospel Reflection：

There are two temptations that can confront us regarding God's gifts to each of us. One is to over-perform using it. The other is the opposite. It is to under-utilize or not to use God's gift at all. In our gospel God is seen as an astute stewar of his estate. Whenever he lends, he expects a return, no matter how small.

It depends on the receiver's capacity. Whatever return there is, is appreciated and rewarded with a much greater gift. Hence the one who cultivates his or her God-given talent grows in stature in God's eyes over time, while the lazy and afraid diminish in stature.

Those who remain mediocre would remain that way. As a matter of fact, they would deteriorate. Whatever it is that they have would be lost in time. It will atrophy for lack of use. And so, sometimes, it is better to err on the side of  excess than to be mediocre. It is easier to prune and lessen than to add.