33rd Week in Ordinary Time
19th November 2023 (Sunday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 1
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 (R. 1a)
R/. Blessed are all who fear the Lord
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. Abide in me, and I in you, says the Lord; whoever abides in me bears much fruit.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Matthew 25:14-30
At that time: Jesus told his disciples this parable: “It will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Highlight: Effect is Quality!
Guidlines: The value of life is not in quantity but in quality. It means to be sober and productive{alertSuccess}
1. The Word of God once again reminds us of our vocation, destiny and mission. In his first letter to the Thessalonians in the second reading, Paul reminds us that we are citizens of the light and the day. We do not belong to night and darkness. We are not in darkness. Therefore, we must not sleep as others do but be always alert and sober.
2. In the first reading from Proverbs, we have the figure of a good wife: she is a woman of character; she is more precious than any jewel; her husband can completely trust her; she will be of great benefit to him. She brings him only good and not evil, all the days of her life. Like her, we too must be persons of character, of benefit to others. We must bring others only good and not evil, all the days of our life.
3. The same theme of being sober, diligent and productive is emphasised in the gospel through the parable of talents. The parable of talents is a call for abundant productivity and fruitfulness. The matter is not the number or the degree of the talents, but the use and growth of them.
4. Let one not bother needlessly about the issue of difference or discrimination in the number of the distributed talents. We are not here to analyse and argue over God’s ways. It is a fact that there is diversity and distinction, but these need not be taken as adversity and discrimination on the part of God.
5. The difference is not denial or deprivation. It is better to discover one’s own talents, value and appreciate them, work on them and enhance them. Let one not feel dispirited over what one does not have, or feel jealous about what others have, in useless comparison and competition. This can create a hurting sense of discrimination.
6. Further such a hurting sense of discrimination can arise when we are too much caught up with the “secondary level” of talents. These are more external and are rather skills and competencies that are acquired and developed. They are the talents like singing, dancing, music, painting, art, the ability to be eloquent, to be fluent, to manage, to organize, to be sociable, intelligence, knowledge, etc.
7. But we should rather focus on the “primary level” of talents and gifts, where there is no discrimination. They are given to all. They are the talents and gifts to love, to give, to be gentle, to comfort, to encourage, to appreciate, to be kind, etc. These are not to be laid waste but to be used extensively. The more we grow them, the more we will be blessed by God.
8. Besides, when one focuses only on the secondary talents, two possibilities are there: if one has many talents, one can easily become self-oriented, complacent and puffed up. Or, on the other hand, if one has only little, then one can become disappointed or jealous. Both sides are not good. This is what we see in case of many.
9. This is the biggest fault of the third servant. He laid waste the one talent that was given to him. He did not make use of it, like the other two. He did not bring out more benefit with it. He was just satisfied with the least minimum, that is, just giving back to the master what he had received from him. He failed thus in two essential aspects of a worthwhile life: productivity and beneficialness.
10. Very many times, many are like the last servant. They are indifferent and lethargic. They lack the vigour and enthusiasm of life. They do not discover their talents. They do not enhance them or deepen and strengthen them. They do not use them for the good of others. They become so irresponsible, unproductive and useless. Where are we?
Practice: Life is gifted, not to while away but to live it worthwhile. A life that is not responsible and hardworking, will fail to be productive and beneficial{alertSuccess}