Daily Readings - Wed Nov 17 2021
2 Maccabees
1And it happened also that seven brothers, united with their mother, were apprehended and compelled by the king to eat the flesh of swine against divine law, being tormented with scourges and whips20Now the mother was wonderful beyond measure, and a worthy memorial of the good, for she watched her seven sons perish within the time of one day, and she bore it with a good soul, because of the hope that she had in God21And, with fortitude, she exhorted every one of them, in the language of the fathers, being filled with wisdom. And, joining masculine courage with feminine thinking22she said to them: "I do not know how you were formed in my womb. For I did not give you spirit, nor soul, nor life; neither did I construct each of your limbs23Nevertheless, the Creator of the world, who formed the nativity of man, and who founded the origins of all, will restore both spirit and life to you again, with his mercy, just as you now despise yourselves for the sake of his laws.24But Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and at the same time also despising the voice of the reproacher, when only the youngest was still left, not only exhorted him with words, but also assured him with an oath, that he would make him wealthy and happy, and, if he would convert from the laws of his fathers, he would have him as a friend, and he would provide him with necessary things25But, when the youth was not swayed by these things, the king called the mother and persuaded her to act toward the youth to save him26And so, when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised that she would counsel her son27Then, leaning towards him and mocking the cruel tyrant, she said in the language of the fathers: "My son, take pity on me, for I carried you for nine months in my womb, and I gave you milk for three years, and I nourished you and led you through to this stage of life28I ask you, child, gaze upon heaven and earth, and all that is in them, and understand that God made them, and the family of man, out of nothing29So shall it be that you will not fear this executioner, but, participating worthily with your brothers, you shall accept death, so that, by this mercy, I shall receive you again with your brothers.30While she was still saying these things, the youth said: "What are you waiting for? I will not obey the precepts of the king, but the precepts of the law, which was given to us through Moses31In truth, you, who have been the inventor of all malice against the Hebrews, will not escape the hand of God
Luke
11As they were listening to these things, continuing on, he spoke a parable, because he was nearing Jerusalem, and because they guessed that the kingdom of God might be manifested without delay12Therefore, he said: "A certain man of nobility traveled to a far away region, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return13And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten pounds, and he said to them: ‘Do business until I return.14But his citizens hated him. And so they sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this one to reign over us.15And it happened that he returned, having received the kingdom. And he ordered the servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called so that he would know how much each one had earned by doing business16Now the first approached, saying: ‘Lord, your one pound has earned ten pounds.17And he said to him: ‘Well done, good servant. Since you have been faithful in a small matter, you will hold authority over ten cities.18And the second came, saying: ‘Lord, your one pound has earned five pounds.19And he said to him, ‘And so, you shall be over five cities.20And another approached, saying: ‘Lord, behold your one pound, which I kept stored in a cloth21For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow.22He said to him: ‘By your own mouth, do I judge you, O wicked servant. You knew that I am an austere man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow23And so, why did you not give my money to the bank, so that, upon my return, I might have withdrawn it with interest?24And he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the pound away from him, and give it to him who has ten pounds.25And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds.26So then, I say to you, that to all who have, it shall be given, and he will have in abundance. And from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him27‘Yet truly, as for those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here, and put them to death before me.’ 28And having said these things, he went ahead, ascending to Jerusalem
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful lessons on faithfulness and stewardship. The first reading from 2 Maccabees tells the story of a mother and her seven sons who endure immense suffering rather than betray their faith. Their courage in the face of death is a testament to the enduring power of faith and the hope of eternal life. The second reading, from Luke's Gospel, presents a parable about a nobleman who entrusts his servants with resources before departing. Upon his return, he judges them based on how they have used what was given to them. The servants who invested wisely are rewarded, while the one who failed to act is condemned.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own relationship with God and the gifts he has entrusted to us. The mother and her sons remind us that faithfulness, even in the face of great adversity, is a profound act of love and trust in God's plan. The parable of the talents challenges us to consider how we use the time, talents, and resources we have been given. Are we using them to build up the kingdom of God, or are we letting them go to waste through fear or complacency?
As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to be faithful stewards of all that God has given us. Whether it is our time, our talents, or our material possessions, let us use them in a way that reflects our love for God and our commitment to his will. May we, like the mother and her sons, remain steadfast in our faith, and may we, like the diligent servants, be found worthy of the trust that has been placed in us.