THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, NOVEMBER 19, 2023

MASS READINGS:

Gospel Mt 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.'"

REFLECTION

But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money.

“God has not called us to be successful. He has called us to be faithful.” (St Teresa of Calcutta).

How many of us fear failure and therefore don't do anything? How many of us don't fear failure and we try our best, sometimes not successfully, other times getting the job done?

We choose to imitate the saints in serving God. We remember the successful saints--those who converted thousands, healed many, established religious communities and wrote many books. So we think that since we don't accomplish these feats we have little if no talent to be used for the Kingdom of God.

Think again, we are called to do His work, but we can succeed or fail. Failure can be a way to get closer to God and start anew, recalculate what we think we can do and what God has called us to do. The point is that once we have discerned God's will and the talents we have, we need to pray for the grace of God. God is good and has given us many things. Put these talents and gifts to do His work. For if God wants us to succeed the Holy Spirit will make it work.

God bless you.