Thirty-third Sunday of the Year: A: November 19, 2023

 BEING FAITHFUL AND  INDUSTRIOUS 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. An ideal wife's qualities are narrated. She is hard-working, a support to the husband and she is always 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 Thessalonica 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 Christians at Thessalonica and all of us that as children of the light, we are to keep awake for the coming of Jesus our Lord and Master. 

The parable of the talents                                                                         Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. The parable of the talents is narrated and explained. In the parable, there are three servants and their Master. The Master gives certain amount of money -'talents'- to all three servants and he goes on a long journey. The first and the second servants are industrious and hard-working. However, the third servant is lazy and a man of excuses. On his return, the Master calls all three servants and asks for an account of the money he had entrusted to them. All of them told the Master how they utilized the money given to them. The Master praises the first and the second servant for their hard work and shrewdness as they 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 the 'talent' given to him and did not let it be productive. Jesus tells this parable to explain to us how we are to make use of our God-given abilities and talents in our daily lives. The parable is certainly not about making money or about accumulating wealth at any cost. Through this parable Jesus is explaining to us about using our precious time and God-given gifts and grow as children of God and as 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 aspects, the parable has a lot of positive and encouraging aspects. Two out of the 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 same 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. All of us are invited to respond to it whole-heartedly.

"It is more important to be faithful than to be successful". - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta