DAILY- HOMILY

November 16, 2014

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

[Memorial, Sts. Roch Gonzalez, John del Castillo and Alphonsus Rodriguez]

Prv 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31/ Ps 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5/ 1 Thes 5: 1-6/ Mt 25: 14-30 or 25:14-15, 19-21

First Reading: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

The woman of character, where is she to be found? She is more precious than any jewel. Her husband has complete confidence in her; she will be of great benefit to him. She brings him only good and not evil, all the days of her life. She has obtained wool and flax, and works with skillful hands She puts her hand to the distaff and her fingers hold the spindle. She reaches out her hand to the helpless and gives to the poor. Charm is deceptive and beauty useless; the woman who is wise is the one to praise. May she enjoy the fruits of her labor and may all praise her for her works. 

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

Brothers and sisters: "You do not need anyone to write to you about the delay and the appointed time for these events. You know that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people feel secure and at peace, the disaster will suddenly come upon them as the birth pangs of a woman in labor, and they will not escape. But you, beloved, are not in darkness; so that day will not surprise you like a thief. All of you are citizens of the light and the day; we do not belong to night and darkness. Let us not, therefore, sleep as others do, but remain sober and alert."

Gospel: Matthew 25:14-15, 19-21

Jesus said: "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. 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 gave been faithful in a few things, I will entrust you with much more. Come and share the joy of your master.' "

Reflection:

     Today's readings remind us to be grateful for the gifts and talents given to us, to make good use of them and to be always prepared for the accounting which will surely come at the end.  While Proverbs describes and praises the "woman of character," the same can be said for the "man of character": he too works hard, does good and "reaches out to the helpless and gives to the poor." The reading from Proverbs urges all of us to aspire for and to be men and women "of character." It reminds us of Jesus in his sermon on the mount: "For your part you shall be righteous and perfect in the way your heavenly Father is righteous and perfect."  And "A good tree always produces good fruit, a rotten tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit and a rotten tree cannot bear good fruit. Any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire. So you will know them by their fruit."  

     The second reading reminds all of us that we are "citizens of the light and the day; we do not belong to night and darkness. Let us not, therefore, sleep as others do, but remain sober and alert." The Word of God was "the true light that enlightens everyone." At his public ministry, Jesus said: "I am the light of the world; the one who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have light and life." During the Easter season when we celebrate Christ's risen life, the Paschal candle is a special symbol of Christ as life and light. Christ's death on the cross is his passage to hell, to darkness and to non-life. His resurrection is his return to Glory, to light and to his Father, and gives assurance of eternal life to those who follow and hear his word. 

     The parable of the talents in the gospel applies to each one of us: God has indeed given each one of us all that we are and have, our very existence, our talents and individual gifts, our families and friends, our country and Church. In his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius of Loyola speaks of "the blessings of creation and redemption, and the special favors I have received," of "how much God our Lord has done for me, and how much He has given me of what I possess, and finally, how much, as far as He can, the same Lord desires to give Himself to me according to His divine decrees."  In a similar way at the very beginning of his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius of Loyola wrote: "Man is created to praise, reverence and serve God our Lord, and by this means to save his soul. The other things on the face of the earth are created for man to help him in attaining the end for which he is created. Hence, man is to make use of them in so far as they help him in the attainment of his end, and he must rid himself of them in as far as they prove a hindrance to him."

     And as in the parable of the talents, we will be asked how we have made use of all of our gifts and opportunities, for ourselves and for others. Each one of us will make an accounting to God our creator of how we have made a difference in the world because of the way we have made use of these opportunities and responsibilities.

Prayer Requests:

We pray ...

... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn

... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary

... for families who are in need of healing

... for world peace and reconciliation

... for the special intentions of Jennette Pe

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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