Greetings on this the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30
Summary
Life is a journey. There are those who invest in the common journey and those who do not.
A man who was 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. Who can find a woman of worth? Far beyond jewels is her value (Mt 25:14, 15; Pv 31:10).
- Where is he going? In a spiritual reading, we might imagine the Master’s absence not as abandonment, but as trust.: his work continues through those to whom he entrusts responsibility.
- Did he abandon all that he is responsible for or did he entrust others in their part of the shared journey? He entrusted the faithful to keep his benevolence present even as he attends to other lost sheep.
The master doesn’t leave us to ignore us. He leaves us to grow into our destiny of increasing our faith, improving our compassion and learning that our agency to act is our responsibility.
- He trains us to be stewards.
- He trains us in the ways of compassion expressed as appropriate use of time, talents and resources.
- The woman of worth shows what faithful stewardship looks like when it becomes ordinary life.
Reflection
Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober (1 Thes 5:6).
Personal Reflection
We share in the journey of life in the ordinary and spiritual senses, both. We invest in one another. We enrich the journey with our care and compassion.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111526.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry