>>> St MONICA – Pray for Us!
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR GOD GIVEN TALENTS
Introduction
A convinced Christian, Monica (332-387) was married to a short-tempered, philandering husband. She succeeded in converting both him and her mother in law. Her son, Augustine, belonged to the Manichean sect and his moral conduct caused her much anxiety and shame. Yet Monica could finally win him to the faith by her prayers and penance – and what a man and Christian Augustine became! His mother’s tears had brought him to life in Christ (hence the Gospel). Thus, she was twice his mother. Her life was that of a lot of women – trials in marriage, worries about difficult children. But she knew that faith in Christ makes everything possible. At last, she won!
Opening Prayer
Almighty eternal God,
to give a human life to their children
is the great task you entrust to mothers.
We thank you today for St. Monica,
who prayed to you for her son, Augustine,
that he might find Jesus.
Grant to all parents
that they may help their children live and grow
in the life and the future
of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!
1 Reading – 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31
Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.
Responsorial PSALM 33:12-13, 18-19, 20-21
R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind. R.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine. R.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust. R.
Alleluia – JOHN 13:34
Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel – MATTHEW 25:14-30
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’”
Commentary
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 favour, however immeasurably inadequate that is, to God when He comes calling. This is the inner dynamics of every saint and holy soul.
Intentions
– That all people may share in the earth’s resources in justice, friendship and peace, we pray:
– That inspiring homes and good educators may equip our young people to place their potentials in the service of the Church and of our people, we pray:
– That women may take with honor their rightful place in the Church and in the world; that their talents of cordiality, tact and sensitivity may warm this harsh world with gentleness, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God,
let this bread and wine be the signs,
that with your Son, Jesus Christ,
we care about your kingdom among people.
Help us through your Son
to lead one another forward
on the way to you.
May he live in all of us,
for he is our Lord for ever. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
we thank you for Jesus Christ
and for the many men and women
to whom he meant enough
to dedicate themselves to their neighbour
for his sake.
Let them inspire us today
to care for those around us.
Help us to believe firmly enough
in the mystery of your Son’s resurrection,
to rise above our petty selves
and to help others overcome
their fears and their servitudes
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!
Blessing
Every one of us has received from God one’s own particular gifts. That you may be good servants of what God has entrusted to you, whether much or little, may Almighty God bless you, he Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!