Welcome Back to Banquet of the Word!
Join us every week for background on this Sunday readings.
Our mission is simple: We want to help everyone in “pew-land” get more out of mass. Because it’s fun to feel smart about scripture.
Our theme today again – Be Watchful! The Lord is Coming. Stay Awake!
PRV 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
(The 1st Reading is Old Testament. It always links to the Gospel.)
The seven books of scripture that are categorized as “Wisdom Literature” include Wisdom of Solomon, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Sirach, Song of Songs, Job and Proverbs.
- Last week we were in Wisdom; this week we’re in Proverbs.
- Last week the “she” was “Wisdom;” this week the “she” is “a worthy wife.”
- Last week we talked about Brides and Grooms. We learned that “Wisdom” is espoused to “God,” and “The Church” is espoused to “Christ.”
- Today we see the earthly covenant of “Bride” and “Groom” as in “Wife” and “Husband.”
Where are you in this scripture reading? If you are married, what can you glean from these words? If you seek marriage, rest in these words to find the mate who can fulfill these characteristics.
As Christians -whether man or woman – we can all try harder to be the “Bride” (the Church) that God calls us to be – the honor the covenant we entered at our baptisms.
When one finds a worthy wife,
her value is far beyond pearls.
Her husband, entrusting his heart to her,
has an unfailing prize.
She brings him good, and not evil,
all the days of her life.
She obtains wool and flax
and works with loving hands.
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.
Responsorial Psalm – Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
(The Psalm is a “response” to what we heard in the 1st Reading)
Today we more about wives in our responsorial psalm. I love this psalm; with 4 children ages 8, 10, 12, and 14, I daydream about a day when they will call come home for holiday dinners “like olive plants around our table.”
May God grant our family the grace to make such a scene possible!
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.
1 THES 5:1-6
(The 2nd reading is usually from Paul’s letters. Speaks to how the early church was built after Christ’s death and resurrection).
In the 2nd half of this letter, Paul takes on an encouraging theme. He wants those reading the letter to know their citizenship with God is NOT on Earth (he speaks to Veterans of War actually), but their citizenship with God is in Heaven. Listen for the themes of darkness and light. We are Children of the Light!
The theme? Be Ready. He Will Come Like a Thief in the Night.
For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord
will come like a thief at night.
Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters,
you have no need for anything to be written to you.
For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come
like a thief at night.
When people are saying, “Peace and security,”
then sudden disaster comes upon them,
like labor pains upon a pregnant woman,
and they will not escape.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness,
for that day to overtake you like a thief.
For all of you are children of the light
and children of the day.
We are not of the night or of darkness.
Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do,
but let us stay alert and sober.
MT 25:14-30
(The Gospel is the highest point of the Liturgy of the Word. That’s why we stand.
We are about to hear from and be instructed by Christ Himself.)
Today’s gospel is about the master who gives 5, 2 and 1 talents (currency of the day, but a double entendre of course, as we can read this gospel and consider our God-given “talents).
We all know this story. The one with 5 goes out and makes 5 more. The worker with 2 goes out and makes 2 more. The man with 1 went and buried his talent in the ground. The master – God personified – calls him a “wicked, lazy servant” who is thrown out, called “useless” and is ultimately locked out.
The message is simple.
- What are your talents? Do you sing, dance, counsel, listen, or study well?
- What are you doing with the talents? Spending them, saving them (for what?), or burying them?
- More importantly, what is God calling you to do with your talents? He gave you those talents for a specific reason. The reason is to build up His Kingdom. When is the last time you asked Him how you’re doing with your talents?
This week go to God. Ask HIM for strength and courage to use your talents better this Advent season and beyond. He WILL tell you!
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.'”
Banquet of the Word 