First Reading: (2 Maccabees 7:1, 20–31)
Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 17)
Response: Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Alleluia
“Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.”
Gospel: (Luke 19:11–28)
“To everyone who has, more will be given; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
Reflection
Today’s Mass readings revolves around courage, trust, and faithful use of the gifts God has given us.
A mother in the first reading inspired her sons to remain faithful even in the face of death. Her strength does not come from herself but from her deep conviction that God is the giver of life and the one who restores it. She reminds her youngest son, and all of us, that nothing we surrender for the sake of God is ever truly lost.
The Gospel parable expands this theme. Jesus corrects the expectation that the Kingdom of God would arrive immediately. Instead, He calls His disciples, and us, to focus not on the future but on how we live right now.
Each servant in the parable is entrusted with something valuable, just as each of us is entrusted with gifts, time, talents, faith, and opportunities.
The faithful servants invested what they received. They took risks. They acted with courage.
But one servant hid his coin out of fear, fear of losing, fear of failing, fear of displeasing the master.
Jesus uses this servant to warn us: fear is not an excuse for inaction.
Faith demands engagement, generosity, and participation.
God doesn’t ask us to be perfect;
He asks us to be faithful,
to trust Him enough to use the gifts He has given us, even if we sometimes fall short.
Like the mother in Maccabees, we are called to live with courageous hope.
Like the faithful servants in the Gospel, we are called to put our gifts to work for the good of others, for the building of God’s kingdom here and now.
As this year draws to a close, Mother Church invites us to reflect on what we have done with the life and graces God has entrusted to us.
May we not hide our gifts in fear, but use them boldly, generously, and faithfully.
May God bless you
Pal Ronnie
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