Gospel: November 20, 2024
November 20, 2024 (Wednesday)
33rd Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 1 / (Red)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 150: 1b-2, 3-4, 5-6
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, mighty God!
1st Reading: Revelation 4: 1-11
Gospel: Luke 19: 11-28
Jesus was now near Jerusalem and the people with him thought that God’s reign was about to appear. So as they were listening to him, Jesus went on to tell them a parable. He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant place to have himself appointed king of his own people, after which he would return. Before he left, he summoned 10 of his servants and gave them 10 pounds. He said: ‘Put this money to work until I get back.’ But his compatriots who disliked him sent a delegation after him with this message: ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’
He returned, however, appointed as king. At once he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made. The first came in and reported: ‘Sir, your pound has earned 10 more.’ The master replied: ‘Well done, my good servant. Since you have proved yourself capable in a small matter, I can trust you to take charge of 10 cities.’ The second reported: ‘Sir, your pound earned five more pounds.’ The master replied: ‘Right, take charge of five cities.’
The third came in and said: ‘Sir, here is your money which I hid for safekeeping. I was afraid of you for you are an exacting person; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’ The master replied: ‘You worthless servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew I was an exacting person, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow! Why, then, did you not put my money on loan so that when I got back I could have collected it with interest?’
Then the master said to those standing by: ‘Take from him that pound, and give it to the one with 10 pounds.’ They objected: ‘But, sir, he already has 10!’ ‘I tell you: everyone who has will be given more; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for my enemies who did not want me to be king, bring them in and execute them right here in my presence.’”
So Jesus spoke, and then he went on ahead of them, on his way to Jerusalem.
Reflection:
“God’s gift to us”
Our faith journey now invites us to make a more intense self-examination. This time, it would be good to look into how we used our energy, resources, talents and skills this past liturgical year. Have we made the most out of whatever God has given us? Have we misused or abused such God-given gifts? Have set them aside out of fear or indifference? What have we done with God’s gift to us? In the Gospel pericope for today, Jesus narrated a parable—the Parable of the Ten Pounds. There is a more familiar parallel story which is known to us as the Parable of the Talents (cf. Mt 25:14-20). Both the Lucan and Matthean accounts are textually situated toward the end of Jesus’ earthly life, when he was about to fulfill his mission in Jerusalem. We may reflect on our God-given gifts vis-à-vis Jesus’ offering of himself. Jesus gave his all that we may have the fullness of life. Can we also give our best so that we may keep the kind of life God intends for us to have?
