With good will and cheer, let us dedicate our lives to being all God asks
Reflections on the readings for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 15, 2020): PRV 31:10-13,18-20,30-31; PS 128:1-2,3,4-5; 1 THES 5:1-6; MT 25:14-30
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days
Everyone can venerate Almighty God by using His gifts as well as possible. We may not think we have been given many skills or the opportunities to succeed as well as others. But we must honor our own uniqueness by expressing our faith, hope, and love for our merciful Lord.
In both the Old Testament and the Gospel readings today we meet examples of people whose lives revere God and respect His gifts to us. The woman in Proverbs, often called the Ideal Wife, and the first two servants in Jesus’ Parable of the Talents demonstrate the wholehearted way that God wants us to make use of His blessings. Our Creator has bestowed reason and free will on His people. How we use them for good or evil is up to us. The description of this woman shows someone who clearly thinks and plans for the best way she can spend her time. And the result is that she accomplishes a great deal, not only in her marriage and her daily tasks, but also in making an effort to help others. She is a person of dignity and creativity. She loves God and all His people, not only her family. “When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls.… She brings (her husband) good, and not evil, all the days of her life.… She reaches out her hands to the poor and extends her arms to the needy.… The woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her a reward for her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates” (Proverbs 31:10, 12, 20, 30-31). Like the servants in the parable who use the talents their master has given them to attain so much by their efforts, she is a person of wisdom.
Everyone can venerate Almighty God by using His gifts as well as possible. We may not think we have been given many skills or the opportunities to succeed as well as others. But we must honor our own uniqueness by expressing our faith, hope, and love for our merciful Lord. Let us offer our thanksgiving to Him by doing and being all we can – by devoutly and joyfully living the one and only life we have. And we need to remember that we are not alone. God is always with us. Through prayer, good works and a generous spirit, we will truly hear Him say at the end of time, “Come share your Master’s joy.”
Suggested missionary action: Let us entrust ourselves to God in developing and using all the talents He gives us. Let us also ask His help, not just for our own livelihood and well-being, but also for the benefit of others.
