Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fourth World Day of the Poor

In other years: Saint Albert the Great, Bishop, Doctor (1206-1280)

Other saints: SS Gurias, Samonas, and Abibus, Martyrs (Fourth Century); Saint Didier of Cahors, Bishop (655); Saint Malo, Bishop (Sixth-Seventh Century); Saint Fintan of Rheinau (c. 879); Saint Leopold of Austria (1075-1136); Bd Lucy of Narni (1476-1544); Saint Roque Gonzalez and Companions, Martyrs (1628); Saint Joseph Pignatelli (1737-1811); Saint Raphael Kalinowski (1835-1907)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 37 The Elderly and Children

Mass: Prov 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Resp Ps 128; 1 Th 5:1-6; Mt 25:14-30

Blessed are those who fear the Lord, and who walk in His ways!

JESUS, FATHER OF THE POOR,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

Reflection on today's Gospel is leading me to a variety of places. One is to Saint Paul and his words: "Everyone has his own gift from God, one this another that" (1 Cor 7:7). And then the proclamation from yesterday's First Vespers, words from Hans Urs von Balthasar: "We have received talents in trust and are supposed to work with them not only for ourselves ... but for God. For we owe ourselves, together with all we have, to God".  Recognition may be a key here. First, each one of us has gifts, or talents if you prefer, from God. God doesn't leave anyone out. And no one has all the gifts. Or, as Pope Francis told those gathered for a 2014 Angelus Address, "the Lord does not give the same things to everyone in the same way. He knows us personally and entrusts us with what is right for us; but in everyone, in all, there is something equal: the same, immense trust. God trusts us. God has hope in us!" 

Sadly, there may be a tendency to think that everyone else has gifts and "I" have been left out. I wonder if this dismissal, so to speak, of what God has given me is giving honor and glory to God. Am I burying the gifts God has given me, like the servant in Gospel who went off and buried his talent in the ground?(Mt 25:25). Do I recognize and acknowledge with gratitude whatever gifts God has given me while at the same time rejoice in the gifts of others? If someone compliments me, do I say "thank you" and not brush it off? When was the last time I complimented someone else and expressed gratitude for a particular gift I see in her? We are together in our journey to the Lord. We are children of the light and children of the day (1 Th 5:5). We are supposed to work with our God given gifts, not for our personal glorification, but rather to build the Body of Christ "so that in all things God may be glorified (1 Pet 4:11). God trusts us. God has hope in us. May we be found worthy (Pr 31:10) and rewarded for our labors (Pr 31:31) so God, the giver of all good gifts will say: Well done my good and faithful servant ... come, share your master's joy (Mt 25:21, 23). 

SAINT ALBERT THE GREAT,

PRAY FOR US.

© Gertrude Feick 2020