Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 17, 2021
First Reading: 2 Maccabees 7.1, 20-31
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Psalm 17
1Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!2From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right!3You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.4With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.5My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.6I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words.7Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.8Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,9from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me.10They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.11They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.12He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.13Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,14from men by your hand, O LORD, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.15As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.
Gospel: Luke 19.11-28
11As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.12He said therefore, "A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.13Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Engage in business until I come.'14But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'15When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.16The first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.'17And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.'18And the second came, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made five minas.'19And he said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.'20Then another came, saying, 'Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief;21for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'22He said to him, 'I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?23Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?'24And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.'25And they said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas!'26'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.27But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.'"28And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up 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.