Letters From Home

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.

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

Ordinary Weekday/ Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary/ Dedication of the Churches of Peter and Paul/ Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin, Religious, Missionary/ Ordinary First Reading: Wisdom 18: 14-16; 19: 6-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 105: 2-3, 36-37, 42-43
Alleluia: Second Thessalonians 2: 14
Gospel: Luke 18: 1-8

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. Elizabeth of Hungary by Dr. John Bergsma.

Elizabeth of Hungary, Married Woman, Religious Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Wisdom 13: 1-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 19: 2-3, 4-5ab
Alleluia: Luke 21: 28
Gospel: Luke 17: 26-37

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-Second Week in Ordinary Time by Ms. Joan Watson.

Ordinary Weekday/ Margaret of Scotland, Married Woman/ Gertrude the Great, Virgin, Religious First Reading: Wisdom 7: 22b – 8: 1
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 119: 89, 90, 91, 130, 135, 175
Alleluia: John 15: 5
Gospel: Luke 17: 20-25

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma.

Ordinary Weekday/ Albert the Great, Bishop, Religious, Doctor First Reading: Wisdom 6: 1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 82: 3-4, 6-7
Alleluia: First Thessalonians 5: 18
Gospel: Luke 17: 11-19

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Shane Owens.

Ordinary Weekday First Reading: Wisdom 2: 23 – 3: 9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 34: 2-3, 16-17, 18-19
Alleluia: John 14: 23
Gospel: Luke 17: 7-10

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin, Religious Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Wisdom 1: 1-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 139: 1b-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-10
Alleluia: Philippians 2: 15d, 16a
Gospel: Luke 17: 1-6

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

Readings:
Wisdom 6:12–16
Psalm 63:2–8
1 Thessalonians 4:13–17
Matthew 25:1–13

According to marriage customs of Jesus’ day, a bride was first “betrothed” to her husband but continued for a time to live with her family. Then, at the appointed hour, some months later, the groom would come to claim her, leading her family and bridal party to the wedding feast that would celebrate and inaugurate their new life together.

This is the background to the parable of the last judgment we hear in today’s Gospel.

In the parable’s symbolism, Jesus is the Bridegroom (see Mark 2:19). In this, He fulfills God’s ancient promise to join himself forever to His chosen people as a husband cleaves to his bride (see Hosea 2:16–20). The virgins of the bridal party represent us, the members of the Church.

We were “betrothed” to Jesus in Baptism (see 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25–27) and are called to lives of holiness and devotion until He comes again to lead us to the heavenly wedding feast at the end of time (see Revelation 19:7–9; 21:1–4).

As St. Paul warns in today’s Epistle, Jesus is coming again, though we know not the day nor the hour.

We need to keep vigil throughout the dark night of this time in which our Bridegroom seems long delayed. We need to keep our souls’ lamps filled with the oil of perseverance and desire for God–
virtues that are extolled in today’s First Reading and Psalm.

We are to seek Him in love, meditating upon His kindness, calling upon His name, striving to be ever more worthy of Him, to be found without spot or blemish when He comes.

If we do this, we will be counted as wise and the oil for our lamps will not run dry (see 1 Kings 17:16). We will perceive the Bridegroom, the Wisdom of God (see Proverbs 8:22–31, 35; 9:1–5), hastening toward us, beckoning us to the table He has prepared, the rich banquet which will satisfy our souls.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for the Memorial of St. Martin of Tours by Mr. Clement Harrold.

Martin of Tours, Bishop Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Romans 16: 3-9, 16, 22-27
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 2-3, 4-5, 10-11
Alleluia: Second Corinthians 8: 9
Gospel: Luke 16: 9-15

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com

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

Leo the Great, Pope, Doctor Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Romans 15: 14-21
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98: 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
Alleluia: First John 2: 5
Gospel: Luke 16: 1-8

Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com