Letters From Home

Lecturas
Ezequiel 34,11-12.15-17
Salmo 23,1-3.5-6
1 Corintios 15, 20-26. 28
Mateo25, 31-46

Esta semana termina el año litúrgico con una visión del final de los tiempos. La escena descrita por el Evangelio es cruda y en ella resuenan ecos del Antiguo Testamento.

El Hijo del Hombre es entronizado sobre todas las naciones y pueblos de toda lengua (cf. Dn 7,13-14). Las naciones han sido reunidas para ver su gloria y recibir su juicio (cf. Is 66,18; So 3,8). El Rey es el pastor divino que Ezequiel prevé en la primera lectura del domingo; Él juzga así como el pastor separa las ovejas de las cabras.

Cada uno de nosotros será juzgado según cómo realice las sencillas obras de misericordia que escuchamos en el Evangelio.

Estas obras, como Jesús explica hoy, son reflejo o medida de nuestro amor a Él; son nuestra fidelidad a su mandamiento de amar a Dios con todas nuestras fuerzas y al prójimo como a nosotros mismos (cf. Mt 22, 36-40).

Nuestra fe está muerta, no tiene vida, a menos de que la expresemos con obras de amor (cf. St 2,20; Ga 5,6). Y no podemos decir que amamos verdaderamente a Dios a quien no vemos, si no amamos a nuestro prójimo, a quien sí vemos (cf. 1Jn 4,20).

El Señor es nuestro pastor, como cantamos en el salmo del domingo. Y hemos de seguir su guía e imitar su ejemplo (cf. 1Co 1,11; Ef 5,1).

Él ha sanado nuestras enfermedades (cf. Lc 6,19), nos ha liberado de la cárcel del pecado y de la muerte (cf. Rm 8,2.21), nos ha dado la bienvenida a nosotros que una vez fuimos extraños a su alianza (cf. Ef 2,12.19). Nos ha revestido en el bautismo (cf. Ap 5,5; 2Co 5, 3-4) y nos alimenta con la comida y la bebida de su propio Cuerpo y Sangre.

“Al final” vendrá de nuevo para entregar su reino a su Padre, como dice San Pablo en la epístola de esta semana.

Luchemos por seguirle en el camino correcto para que su reino sea nuestra heredad; para que podamos entrar en el descanso eterno prometido al pueblo de Dios (cf. Hb 4,1.9-11).

Readings:
Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
Psalm 23:1-3, 5-6
1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
Matthew 25:31-46

The Church year ends today with a vision of the end of time. The scene in the Gospel is stark and resounds with Old Testament echoes.

The Son of Man is enthroned over all nations and peoples of every language (see Daniel 7:13–14). The nations have been gathered to see His glory and receive His judgment (see Isaiah 66:18; Zephaniah 3:8). The King is the divine shepherd Ezekiel foresees in today’s First Reading, judging as a shepherd separates sheep from goats.

Each of us will be judged upon our performance of the simple works of mercy we hear in the Gospel today.

These works, as Jesus explains today, are reflections or measures of our love for Him, our faithfulness to His commandment that we love God with all our might and our neighbor as ourselves (see Matthew 22:36–40).

Our faith is dead, lifeless, unless it be expressed in works of love (see James 2:20; Galatians 5:6). And we cannot say we truly love God, whom we cannot see, if we don’t love our neighbor, whom we can (see 1 John 4:20).

The Lord is our shepherd, as we sing in today’s Psalm. And we are to follow His lead, to imitate His example (see 1 Corinthians 1:11; Ephesians 5:1).

He healed our sickness (see Luke 6:19), freed us from the prison of sin and death (see Romans 8:2, 21), welcomed us who were once strangers to His covenant (see Ephesians 2:12, 19). He clothed us in baptism (see Revelation 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:3–4), and feeds us with the food and drink of His own body and blood.

At “the end,” He will come again to hand over His kingdom to His Father, as Paul says in today’s Epistle.

Let us strive to be following Him in right paths, that this kingdom might be our inheritance, that we might enter into the eternal rest promised for the people of God (see Hebrews 4:1, 9–11).

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Ordinary Weekday/ Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary/ Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin, Martyr First Reading: First Maccabees 6: 1-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 9: 2-3, 4 and 6, 16 and 19
Alleluia: Second Timothy 1: 10
Gospel: Luke 20: 27-40

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions by Dr. John Bergsma.

Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, Martyr, & Companions, Martyrs Obligatory Memorial First Reading: First Maccabees 4: 36-37, 52-59
Responsorial Psalm: First Chronicles 29: 10bcd, 11abc, 11d-12a, 12bcd
Alleluia: John 10: 27
Gospel: Luke 19: 45-48

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time by Ms. Joan Watson.

Ordinary Weekday/ Thanksgiving Day/ Clement I, Pope, Martyr/ Columban, Abbot, Missionary/ Blessed Miguel Augustín Pro, Priest, Religious, Martyr/ Ordinary First Reading: First Maccabees 2: 15-29
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 50: 1b-2, 5-6, 14-15
Alleluia: Psalms 95: 8
Gospel: Luke 19: 41-44

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Cecilia by Dr. John Bergsma.

Cecilia, Virgin, Martyr Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Second Maccabees 7: 1, 20-31
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 17: 1bcd, 5-6, 8b and 15
Alleluia: John 15: 16
Gospel: Luke 19: 11-28

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Dr. Shane Owens.

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Second Maccabees 6: 18-31
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 3: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Alleluia: First John 4: 10b
Gospel: Luke 19: 1-10

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Monday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: First Maccabees 1: 10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 119: 53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158
Alleluia: John 8: 12
Gospel: Luke 18: 35-43

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Lecturas:
Proverbios 31,10–13.19–20.30–31
Salmo 128, 1–5
1 Tesalonicenses 5, 1–6
Mateo 25, 14–30

El día del Señor viene, advierte San Pablo en la epístola del domingo. Lo que importa no es el tiempo o el momento, sino lo que Dios nos encuentre haciendo con la nueva vida y las gracias que Él nos ha dado.

Esto mismo se encuentra en el corazón de la parábola que Cristo narra en el Evangelio de esta semana. Jesús es el Señor. Al morir, resucitar y ascender al cielo, aparentemente se ha ido por largo tiempo.

Por nuestro bautismo, Él nos ha confiado a cada uno de nosotros una porción de su“hacienda”: una participación de su vida divina (cf. 2P 1,4). Nos ha dado talentos y responsabilidades según la medida de nuestra fe (cf. Rm 12,3.8).

Hemos de ser como la loable esposa de la primera lectura, y como la mujer fiel de la que cantamos en el salmo. Como ellas, debemos vivir en el “temor de Dios”: con reverencia, admiración y gratitud por los maravillosos dones que nos ha dado. Ese es el principio de la sabiduría (cf. Hch 9,31; Pr 1,7).

Ese no es el “temor” del siervo inútil que aparece esta semana en la parábola de Jesús. El suyo es el miedo de un esclavo que se empequeñece ante su señor cruel; el miedo de quien rechaza la relación con Dios a la que Él mismo nos llama.

Dios nos ha llamado a ser siervos de confianza, colaboradores suyos (cf. 1Co 3,9) que usen sus talentos para servirse unos a otros y a su Reino, como buenos administradores de su gracia (cf. 1P 4,10).

En ello, cada uno de nosotros tiene un papel diferente que jugar.

Aunque a los siervos buenos de la parábola se les dio diferente cantidad de talentos, cada uno “duplicó” los que se le habían entregado. Y cada uno de ellos mereció la misma recompensa por su fidelidad: compartir la alegría de su señor y tener una mayor responsabilidad a su cargo.

Por tanto, en nuestra Eucaristía, dispongámonos a rendir mucho más de lo que se nos ha dado, haciéndolo todo para la gloria de Dios (cf. 1Co 10,31), para que también nos acerquemos a Él con amor y confianza cuando venga a saldar cuentas con nosotros.

Readings:
Proverbs 31:10–13, 19–20, 30–31
Psalm 128:1–5
1 Thessalonians 5:1–6
Matthew 25:14–30

The day of the Lord is coming, Paul warns in today’s Epistle. What matters isn’t the time or the season, but what the Lord finds us doing with the new life, the graces He has given to us.

This is at the heart of Jesus’ parable in today’s Gospel. Jesus is the Master. Having died, risen, and ascended into heaven, He appears to have gone away for a long time.

By our Baptism, He has entrusted to each of us a portion of His “possessions,” a share in His divine life (see 2 Peter 1:4). He has given us talents and responsibilities, according to the measure of our faith (see Romans 12:3, 8).

We are to be like the worthy wife in today’s First Reading and the faithful man we sing of in today’s Psalm. Like them, we should walk in the “fear of the Lord”—in reverence, awe, and thanksgiving for His marvelous gifts. This is the beginning of wisdom (see Acts 9:31; Proverbs 1:7).

This is not the “fear” of the useless servant in today’s parable. His is the fear of a slave cowering before a cruel master, the fear of one who refuses the relationship that God calls us to.

God has called us to be trusted servants, fellow workers (see 1 Corinthians 3:9), using our talents to serve one another and His kingdom as good stewards of His grace (see 1 Peter 4:10).

In this, we each have a different part to play.

Though the good servants in today’s parable were given different numbers of talents, each “doubled” what he was given. And each earned the same reward for his faithfulness—greater responsibilities and a share of the Master’s joy.

So let us resolve again in this Eucharist to make much of what we’ve been given, to do all for the glory of God (see 1 Corinthians 10:31). That we, too, may approach our Master with confidence and love when He comes to settle accounts.