Sunday, November 15, 2020

​THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

"Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire."
~ St. Catherine of Siena

​God has given each of us equal opportunities  and our unique talents in life. However, each of us is going to account for whatever we do with those opportunities and talents. Our world will surely come to an end and we need to use every opportunity and talent given us to prepare ourselves to achieve our goal of eternal life.

Unfortunately,  the perceptions of our secular and anti religious societies see these opportunities and talents as the fruits of their personal effort. So instead of using these for the purpose of God and the promotion of the mission of Christ they rather use them in pursuit of mundane goals and aspirations.

Our readings aim at motivating us to live in such a way that we make the best use of the talents received from God, so that at the hour of our death  our Lord will say: “Well done, my good and faithful servant!... Come and share the joy of your Master.” - Matthew 25:21

In our first reading the author using the values and the qualities of a good wife enjoins us to be not only loyal and diligent Christians but also industrious and faithful ones in the use of of our God-given talents and gifts with the “fear  of the Lord.” Like the wife we must reach out to the poor and extend our arms to the needy. By this, we stand responsibly ready and prepared to enter Heaven: our eternal home for everlasting life. We are obliged to practice love for both God and neighbors. This pleases God. We have to be creatively and lovingly active. Do everything to carry out the will of God. This is the reason why you have been called to be a Christian.

So the Psalmist echoes that the faithful servant of God is blessed and affirms that the fear of God is the key to human happiness and joy.

In our second reading Paul admonishes that we are “children of the Light” therefore we need to “stay alert and sober.” This calls us to live always prepared to meet our Lord’s second coming. Our wholehearted dedication and commitment to the responsibilities of our Christian living and focusing on our missions will earn us the Lord’s praises at the Final Judgement. Be encouraged and build one another up for salvation.

In conclusion, our gospel message urges us to use our talents and gifts primarily to serve God and doing everything to carry out God given will. We are challenged to be positive, constructive and life-affirming within our circumstances in our time and age, especially, in this unprecedented pandemic period. This must come with trust and focus in God. Whatever is given us is meant to bear fruits for the glory of God and the salvation of our souls. We need to be open in our Christian community by putting into good use every talents, gifts and opportunities God has given us.

Stay healthy... Faith over fear... Keep the Faith... Spread the Faith...

PREPARE YOURSELF FOR SALVATION...

Fr. Emmanuel