Lectionary: 430
Reading 1
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.
Not many of you were wise by human standards,
not many were powerful,
not many were of noble birth.
Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,
and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,
and God chose the lowly and despised of the world,
those who count for nothing,
to reduce to nothing those who are something,
so that no human being might boast before God.
It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus,
who became for us wisdom from God,
as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,
so that, as it is written,
Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 33:12-13, 18-19, 20-21
R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
From heaven the LORD looks down;
he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield,
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Gospel
Matthew 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
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: JESUS' JOB FOR NOBODIES
"Consider your situation. Not many of you are wise, as men account wisdom; not many are influential; and surely not many are well-born." –1 Corinthians 1:26
As far as I know, not many sports celebrities, entertainers, politicians, and other famous people read One Bread, One Body. Our book doesn't appeal that much to those who "are wise, as men account wisdom." Therefore, the world generally does not consider our readers influential or wellborn but absurd (1 Cor 1:26-27).
However, the Lord has called and chosen our readers to shame these worldly wise and to reduce to nothing those who think they are really "something; so that mankind can do no boasting before God" (1 Cor 1:28-29).
So, readers of One Bread, One Body, "do your stuff," which is God's stuff. Take up your crosses daily (Lk 9:23). Follow Jesus. Be fools for Christ (1 Cor 4:10). Accept Jesus as your Wisdom, Justice, Sanctification, Redemption, Savior, Lord, and God (1 Cor 1:30). Boast in the Lord (1 Cor 1:31). Witness for Jesus (Acts 1:8). Love Jesus with all your hearts (Mt 22:37). Convict and shame the world (Jn 16:8; 1 Cor 1:27).
May every reader of One Bread, One Body be a sign of contradiction to the world (Lk 2:34) and depose "the mighty from their thrones and [raise] the lowly to high places" (Lk 1:52). May you each hear Jesus call to you: "Well done! You are a good and faithful servant. Since you were dependable in a small matter I will put you in charge of larger affairs. Come, share your Master's joy!" (Mt 25:21, our transl.)
PRAYER: Father, may we never be enemies of the cross by being set on the things of the world (Phil 3:18-19).
PROMISE: "Happy the nation whose God is the Lord." –Ps 33:12
PRAISE: Jesus healed 15-month-old Kevin's serious stomach burns within twenty minutes.
Be an inspiration, kindly Share.
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