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First Reading: Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31
The woman of character, where is she to be found? She is more precious than any jewel.
Her husband has complete confidence in her; she will be of great benefit to him.
She brings him only good and not evil, all the days of her life.
She has obtained wool and flax, and works them with skillful hands.
She puts her hand to the distaff and her fingers hold the spindle.
She reaches out her hand to the helpless and gives to the poor.
Charm is deceptive and beauty useless; the woman who is wise is the one to praise.
May she enjoy the fruits of her labor and may all praise her for her works.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 128:1-2,3,4-5
R./ Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the Lord,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R./ Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants around your table.
R./ Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R./ Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
May you see your children's children.
Peace be upon Israel!
R./ Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Second Reading: 1st Thessalonians 5:1-6
Brothers and sisters, you do not need anyone to write to you about the delay and the appointed time for these events. You know that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people feel secure and at peace, the disaster will suddenly come upon them as the birth pangs of a woman in labor, and they will not escape.
But you, beloved, are not in darkness; so that day will not surprise you like a thief. All of you are citizens of the light and the day; we do not belong to night and darkness. Let us not, therefore, sleep as others do, but remain alert and sober.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:14-30 or 25:14-15,19-21
Imagine someone who, before going abroad, summoned his servants to entrust his property to them. He gave five talents of silver to one, then two to another, and one to a third, each one according to his ability; and he went away.
He who received five talents went at once to do business with the money and gained another five. The one who received two did the same and gained another two. But the one with one talent dug a hole and hid his master's money.
After a long time, the master of those servants returned and asked for a reckoning. The one who received five talents came with another five talents, saying: 'Lord, you entrusted me with five talents, but see I have gained five more with them.' The master answered: 'Very well, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in a few things, I will entrust you with much more. Come and share the joy of your master.'
Then the one who had two talents came and said: 'Lord, you entrusted me with two talents; I have two more which I gained with them.' The master said: 'Well, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in little things, I will entrust you with much more. Come and share the joy of your master.'
Finally, the one who had received one talent came and said: 'Master, I know that you are an exacting man. You reap what you have not sown and gather what you have not invested. I was afraid, so I hid your money in the ground. Here, take what is yours.' But his master replied: 'Wicked and worthless servant, you know that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not invested. Then you should have deposited my money in the bank, and you would have given it back to me with interest on my return.
Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who are unproductive, even what they have will be taken from them. As for that useless servant, throw him out into the dark where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Greeting (See Second Reading)
We do not belong to the night or to darkness,
so we should not go on sleeping
but stay wide awake and sober.
May the Lord Jesus be your light and stay with you.
R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. Much Is Entrusted To Us
The Lord God trusts us more than we perhaps trust ourselves. He entrusts to us a lot of potentials not only to become the persons and Christians he has called us to be, but also to build up the Church and God's Kingdom. What a trust! He puts himself and the Church and the Kingdom into our hands! That trust is our responsibility. In this eucharist we ask the Lord Jesus to make us respond fully to God's deep trust in us.
B. Take the Risks of Faith
It is disheartening to see at times how people with a lot of potentials simply refuse to use their gifts. Are they afraid of committing themselves, of taking risks with people? Perhaps we too are scared to take the risk of putting ourselves into the hands of people. We keep our faith for Sundays but fail to invest it in the goodness of people, in forgiveness when we have been wronged, in speaking out for those who have no voice, in affection that may not be answered. Let us risk ourselves with the Lord here among us.
Penitential Act
We have used God's gifts too easily
as if they had been given us for ourselves alone,
so we did not serve God and the Church.
We ask the Lord to forgive us.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, when you came among us
you wanted to set us free from all fear:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you have entrusted to us
the future of the Church and of your kingdom:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you have made us
free and responsible in the service of God and the world:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord,
forgive us for misusing your gifts.
Make us servants with you
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray that we may respond
to God's trust in us
(PAUSE)
God, our kind and loving Father,
you no longer call us servants but friends.
There is so much you have entrusted to us,
even the future of your kingdom of justice and love.
Give us the grace to work out with you
the growth of mercy and goodness in this world,
to be united with all Christians
and with all who seek you with a sincere heart
in bringing reconciliation and joy to everyone.
Let us go together the way to you,
our living and loving God,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction: The good housekeeper uses all her talents
Here is a picture of an exemplary mother and wife. She uses all her talents of mind and heart and faith in the service of her family and also of the poor.
Second Reading Introduction: Keep awake for the Lord's coming
As "children of the light and the day," we should be ready any time for the Lord's coming, even though we do not know when he will come.
Gospel Introduction: What have you done with your talents?
God has given us rich gifts of faith. What have we done with them? With whom of the servants in the gospel do we identify?
General Intercessions
What we are and have belongs to God. Let us pray that we may place everything in the service of the Church and of people, and let us say: R/ Lord, let all our actions praise you.
- That the Church may not be afraid to risk accepting the pains of renewal in Christ and bringing to all of humanity its message of hope and life, let us pray: R/ Lord, let all our actions praise you.
- That all people may share in the earth's resources in justice, friendship and peace; that the mighty of this earth may cooperate toward the human and economic development of all nations and al social classes, let us pray: R/ Lord, let all our actions praise you.
- That women may take with honor their rightful place in the Church and in the world; that their cordiality, tact and sensitivity may warm this hard world with gentleness, let us pray: R/ Lord, let all our actions praise you.
- That inspiring homes and a good education may equip our young people to place their potentials in the service of the Church and of our people, let us pray: R/ Lord, let all our actions praise you.
- For all of us here, that we may be responsible under God for our own lives and each other's happiness; that we may progress in service and unity
and enrich one another in love, let us pray: R/ Lord, let all our actions praise you.
Lord our God, you have generously given us our talents. Do not allow us to be misers but help us to give the best of ourselves, through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
we place ourselves and all you have made us
in these gifts of bread and wine,
that you may return them to us
as the body and blood of your Son.
Accept us with Jesus Christ
and convince us that with him
we have to share ourselves with one another
in our poverty and our riches.
May we thus build up one another
and give shape to your kingdom.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Let us with joy give thanks to the Father for all the gifts he has poured out on us in his Son Jesus Christ, and let us offer them with Jesus for the good of all in the Kingdom.
Invitation to the Lord's Prayer
As children of light and of the day
we pray to God our Father
the prayer of Jesus.
: R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from our passivity
and from our paralyzing fear
to commit ourselves to our people.
May we never stand still
to preserve what we have
but always continue to grow in love
and to develop your gifts in us,
that we may give a good account
to him who is to come,
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
R/ For the kingdom..
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus, the Lamb of God.
He gave all he had, his life and death,
that others might live
and become capable of giving themselves.
Happy are we to receive him
and to expect his return without fear.
R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, source of all that is good,
through the gift of your Son Jesus Christ
you have made us capable
of sowing the seeds of your life and love.
When you ask for an account
of what we have done with our lives,
may we hear from your own lips
that we have been good and faithful servants
who did much with the little we had,
and that we may enter your lasting joy.
Grant us this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
Our life with all that we are and have
is not ours to possess,
for it is a trust from God.
It is a loan from him,
not to kept safely in a "hole in the ground"
but to work with as best as we can,
each according to his ability.
May almighty God give you the courage
to serve him and people
with all that is in you, and may he bless you:
the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let us go in the peace of Christ
and be his good and faithful servants. R/ Thanks be to God.
