The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, November 16, 2005
The Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
St. Margaret of Scotland
St. Gertrude, virgin

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31
Psalm 17:1bcd, 5-6, 8b and 15
Luke 19:11-28

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

During the month of November, the Church encourages us to pray for the souls in purgatory. It is also a good time for each of us to reflect on our own lives and our own "end times." In the Gospel for today we hear Christ sharing the parable about using ones' talents. All had used the coin given them wisely except one man who was afraid and hid his, thereby helping nobody, including himself. That man also said that he hid the coin because he was afraid of a demanding master.

What a contrast we see in the first reading, in that the mother was so adamant about her beliefs that she witnessed the death of her seven sons. This might be a good day to think about all the gifts, talents and opportunities God has given us. We might even make a list. Then the hard part comes. What have we done with these gifts? If we haven't used them, why not? If we have used them ...is it for the greater honor and glory of God or for our own benefit? We are told that some day this will not be a casual exercise, but rather we will be answering these questions before the very face of God. Today's 'homework' might make a big difference in how that conversation flows!

- Joan of Jesus, OCDS
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)