Dedication of the Churches of Sts. Peter and Poul 

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, virgin 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Revelation 4:1-11*

 (…..)After this, I looked up to the wall of the sky

And saw an open door. The voice which I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here and I will show you what will come in the future.”(…..)

There, in heaven, was a throne and one sitting on it.(……). In a circle around the throne are twenty-four thrones and seated on these are twenty-four elders, dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads. (……)

Around and beside the throne stand four living creatures,(….) The first living creature is like a lion, the second like a bull, the third has the face of a man and the fourth looks like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures has six wings full of eyes, all around as well as within; day and night they sing with­out ceasing,(......)

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to the One on the throne,(......) the twenty-four elders fall down before him and worship the One who lives for ever and ever.

 

Ps 150 1b-2, 3-4, 5-6

Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 19:11-28*

(…..)Jesus went on to tell them a parable. He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant place to have himself appointed king of his own people, after which he would return. Before he left, he summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds.

He said: ‘Put this money to work until I get back.’ But his compatriots who disliked him sent a delegation after him with this message: ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’

 He returned, however, appointed as king. At once he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, (…..) The first came in and reported: ‘Sir, your pound of silver has earned ten more.’pounds of silver.(…..)

The second reported: ‘Sir, your pound of silver earned five more pounds of silver..’ (…..) The third came in and said: ‘Sir, here is your money which I hid for safekeeping. I was afraid of you for you are an exacting person; (…..)

 The master replied: ‘You worthless servant, I will judge you by your own words! (…..), Then the master said to those standing by: ‘Take from him that pound, and give it to the one with ten pounds.’(…..) ‘I tell you: everyone who has will be given more; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. (….)  

 

Gospel Reflection：

We see the glorified Christ speaking to his Church in Revelation 2-3, Now the scene shifts and we see the glory of Almighty God as well as the worthiness of the Lamb of God. We are also introduced to the worship that goes on before the throne of God.

Too often we are bored by worship, but worsip is our destiny and our privilege as God’s people. The Parable of the Pounds, as it is often called, speaks to us disciples about our productivity. The servants were given money to invest and work with to see how much they could in crease the amount.

Since each was given a relatively small sum, the nobleman’s purpose was not increasing his wealth so much as testing to see which of his servants would be worthy of greater responsibility in his kingdom when he returned.