Humbly submit your will to God and consecrate yourself to Jesus through Mary.

While people were listening to Jesus speak,
he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem
and they thought that the Kingdom of God
would appear there immediately.
So he said,
“A nobleman went off to a distant country
to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return.
He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins
and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’
His fellow citizens, however, despised him
and sent a delegation after him to announce,
‘We do not want this man to be our king.’
But when he returned after obtaining the kingship,
he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money,
to learn what they had gained by trading.
The first came forward and said,
‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’
He replied, ‘Well done, good servant!
You have been faithful in this very small matter;
take charge of ten cities.’
Then the second came and reported,
‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’
And to this servant too he said,
‘You, take charge of five cities.’
Then the other servant came and said,
‘Sir, here is your gold coin;
I kept it stored away in a handkerchief,
for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man;
you take up what you did not lay down
and you harvest what you did not plant.’
He said to him,
‘With your own words I shall condemn you,
you wicked servant.
You knew I was a demanding man,
taking up what I did not lay down
and harvesting what I did not plant;
why did you not put my money in a bank?
Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’
And to those standing by he said,
‘Take the gold coin from him
and give it to the servant who has ten.’
But they said to him,
‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’
He replied, ‘I tell you,
to everyone who has, more will be given,
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king,
bring them here and slay them before me.'”

After he had said this,
he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.  LK 19:11-28

 

Today Jesus uses a parable to teach us what will happen if we use our spiritual gifts the proper way.  Each of us has 3 spiritual powers, an intellect to gain knowledge of God or not, a will to choose God or not, and a memory.  Each of us have gifts of the Holy Spirit: knowledge, understanding, fortitude, fear of the Lord, piety, wisdom, and counsel.  When we use these gifts we received at baptism doing God’s will, we will see the fruits of the Spirit: kindness, generosity, charity, faithfulness, self-control, goodness, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, and modesty.  Each one of us is chosen by God for a vocation and in this we learn how to serve and suffer which brings joy.  Love likes to suffer.  God is love.  Jesus suffered on a cross, this brought joy to the world.  Each of us also has specific spiritual gifts and talents like physical gifts and talents.  These Divine gifts are specifically what Christ is talking about in today’s parable.  Archbishop Barron comments, “When you receive Divine gifts, the grow if they are given away, they wither and die if you hold onto them.”  We are created to serve.  Give your gifts away and see them grow and benefit others.  This will bring great joy to you.

Today’s challenge: Get off your electronics and help/serve someone this week during Thanksgiving.

Be a servant, become a saint!

#Christian YOLO