FAITHFULNESS IN ONE'S DUTY
First Reading: Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20 and 30-31
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
Gospel Reading: Matthew 25: 14-30
* First reading is from the book of Proverbs. A description about an ideal wife is narrated. She is hard working, a support to the husband and charitable to the poor and the needy. Hence such a person is more precious and valuable than any jewels that can be acquired.
*Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians. Paul exhorts the Christian community at Thessalonika to be always ready for the second coming of the Lord Jesus. It will be unexpected and sudden like that of the coming of a thief at night. He invites the community at Thessalonika and all of us that as we are children of the light let us keep awake for the coming of our Lord and Master.
The parable of the talents Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The parable of the talents is narrated. In the parable there are three servants and each of them is given a certain amount of money by their Master to make use of it. Later the Master went on a long journey. The first and the second are industrious. However the third servant is lazy and a man of excuses. On his return the Master calls all three and asks for an account of the money he had entrusted to them. Each of them gives an account of what they had done with the Master's money. The first servant and the second are praised for their hard work and shrewdness as they had multiplied their talents and added returns to their master. But the third servant is severely chastised for his laziness and lack of resourcefulness as he simply buried his talent and did not let it be productive. Jesus told this parable to explain to us how we need to make use of our God-given abilities and talents in our lives. The parable is certainly not about making money or about accumulating wealth for oneself. Through this parable Jesus is telling us about using our precious time and God given gifts and grow as children of God and useful members of the society. It is by living that we discover our talents and it is by using them that we grow. In spite of some negative touch, the parable has a lot of positive and encouraging aspects. Two out of three servants heard those magic words from the Master. "Well done." To all who are doing their best - to live good lives- the Lord is speaking those words of encouragement. "Well done, good and faithful servant." Hence the parable reveals the trust, the confidence and the generosity of God towards each one of us. We are invited to respond to it.
"It is more important to be faithful than to be successful." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
*Please view "Sunday Homilies with Fr. Joy Joseph SVD" on YouTube from 1st Sunday of Advent. Kindly subscribe to it. Thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment