Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection August 31, 2024

31st August 2024 (Saturday)

Psalter: Week 1

Reading of the Day

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Psalm 33:12-13, 18-19, 20-21 (R. 12)

R/. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen as his heritage

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. A new commandment I give to you, says the Lord, that you love one another: just as I have loved you

R/. Alleluia.

Gospel : Matthew 25:14-30

At that time: Jesus told his disciples this parable: “It will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Daily Gospel Reflection

Saturday – Twenty-First Week of Ordinary Time

Guidelines: Life is a big blessing with many talents. We need to constantly discover and make use of them. Laying them buried, and disused will invite God’s judgment

1. In the gospel, Jesus presents us with another rich parable, namely the parable of talents. First, let us not focus on the secondary issues. We shall not argue about the difference in the distribution of talents. The three servants in the gospel are not given the talents equally. Rather, they are given differently, 5, 2, and 1 respectively.

2. But that is no issue. The difference is not discrimination or disparity. Differences are a fact of life. Differences in themselves are not always wrong. What comes out of them and what we make of them is the main matter. They need not be causes of discrimination or fear or resentment or suspicion or jealousy or arrogance. The difference can be a matter of distinction, diversity, and richness. Equality is not uniformity.

3. As a principle, everyone must constantly try to discover and foster one’s talents. For this, one must always search for opportunities and make use of them. We need to always remember that we need to become more productive, beneficial, and effective. And this needs a spirit of hard work and a benevolent and responsible heart. Burying our talents is blameworthy and punishable.

4. There is often an unhealthy and even harmful competition with regard to the number and kind of talents. This is because every talent carries some aspect of competence and recognisability. But we should avoid both jealousy, on one hand, and pride on the other hand.

5. Talents should never be used as springboards for excessive recognition, cheap popularity, and self-glory. They should ever be put to the best use for the maximum benefit of others and effectiveness of the mission.

6. Finally, we should bear in mind that talents are not absolutes in life. We should not attach too much importance to them. In the present times, there is an exaggerated tendency to make too much of talents. Thus, often the quality, efficiency, and success of a person are measured in terms of talents.

Practice: Talents should not become substitutes for the character and goodness of persons. Rather they should complement the person’s better conduct and helping nature.