FIRST READING
“God chose what is weak in the world.”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (I Corinthians 1:26-31)
Consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to the flesh, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no flesh might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption; therefore, as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm33: 12-13.18-19.20-21 (R: 12b)
R/. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen as his heritage.
Blessed the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people he has chosen as his heritage.
From the heavens the Lord looks forth;
he sees all the children of men. R.
Yes, the Lord’s eyes are on those who fear him,
who hope in his merciful love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine. R.
R/. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen as his heritage.
Our soul is waiting for the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
In him do our hearts find joy.
We trust in his holy name. R.
ALLELUIA John 13:34
Alleluia. A new commandment I give to you, says the Lord, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“You have been faithful over a little,’ enter into the joy of your master.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 25:14-30)
At that time: Jesus told his disciples this parable: “It will be as when a man going on a journey 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 did not winnow; 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 sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? 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 every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and quashing of teeth.’“
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
God has freely and graciously called each of us by virtue of our baptism. He called us not because of who we are or what we have but through His love for us. Through this call God has given each of us the gift of His Holy Spirit. Like the master in the Gospel, God expects us to use for the service of humanity the gifts of the Spirit we received. Each one of us is a steward of God’s talent. We need to discover our gifts and fan its fire into flame for we must give account since it was given to us foe a purpose. We rely on God’s help to discover our talents and rely even more on His help to be able to use them and use them well for His service and glory of His name. Therefore, we must be active in Christian charity, in humility, for all that we have has been given to us.