He will judge between the righteous and evil when He returns as King.

St. Monica 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

１Corinthians 1:26-31

 Brothers and sisters,

Look and see whom God has called. Few among you can be said to be cultured or wealthy, and few belong to noble families.  Yet God has chosen what the world considers foolish, to shame the wise; he has chosen what the world considers weak to shame the strong.   

God has chosen common and un­important people, making use of what is nothing to nullify the things that are,  so that no mortal may boast before God.  But, by God’s grace you are in Christ Jesus, who has become our wisdom from God, and who makes us just and holy and free.  Scripture says: Let the one who boasts boast of the Lord.

 

Ps 33:12-13, 18-19, 20-21

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊      

Matthew 25:14-30

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.

He who received five talents went at once to do business with the money and gained another five.  The one who received two did the same and gained another two. But the one with one talent dug a hole and hid his master’s money.

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 have been faithful in a few things, I will entrust you with much more. Come and share the joy of your master.’

 Then the one who had two talents came and said: ‘Lord, you entrusted me with two ta­l­ents; I have two more which I gained with them.’   The master said: ‘Well, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in little things, I will entrust you with much more. Come and share the joy of your master.’

Finally, the one who had received one talent came and said: ‘Master, I know that you are an exacting man. You reap what you have not sown and gather what you have not invested.   I was afraid, so I hid your money in the ground.

Here, take what is yours.’  But his master replied: ‘Wicked and worthless servant, you know that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not invested.   Then you should have deposited my money in the bank, and you would have given it back to me with interest on my return.

Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten.  For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who are unproductive, even what they have will be taken from them.  As for that useless servant, throw him out into the dark where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

 

Gospel Reflection：

Being Gratefully Productive

What Paul speaks about the Corinthians is true of many of us. If we honestly examine ourselves, did we ever merit to be who we are and where we have reached now?

If God has bestowed you with a special vocation or position, it is not out of your merit, but purely out of His Grace, for His purposes. As Paul says and Mother Mary did in the Magnificat, if at all we boast, we can only boast of the marvels God has worked in our lives.

Once we are aware of such marvels, the spontaneous response can only be one of gratitude. One who is so filled with such gratitude for God’s blessings, can never imagine wasting whatever talents and resources God has given, and will work day and night to put those talents to good use and return the favor, however immeasurably inadequate that is, to God when He comes calling. This is the inner dynamics of every saint and holy soul.