MEMORIAL OF ST. AUGUSTINE, BISHOP & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

I give you a new commandment:
love one another just as I have loved you,
says the Lord. JN 13:34

1 THESSALONIANS 4:9-11 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

You have taught us to love one another because we are children of God and He has commanded us to love each other. All are deserving of our love there are no exceptions.

The world tempts us to treat people differently. We are beguiled into believing that it is ok to retaliate unkindly to those who have treated us badly, taken advantage of us, used us, and have done wrong by us, and it is extraordinarily easy to buy into this lie. When in doubt it is better to err on the side of love, to forgive, let the matter rest with You, and to live in peace with our conscience. 

PSALM 98:1, 7-9 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

Often we encounter those who by virtue of their vocation are
invited by You to live a life that sets them apart from the world. They are in the world but are called by You in a very special way not to be of it. But this is not always the case and it is very easy to become disappointed, disgruntled, and downright furious when by their actions they prove to be no less money-grubbing than those in the world who are without conscience. 

Sadly, they have forgotten their divine calling and are unaware of the fact that they are a scandal to those who have experienced injustice at their hands. In moments like these, we must remember that You are God and we must trust in the might of Your right hand, Your holy arm, that has brought salvation to the world and we must entrust all who have done wrong by us to You.  

What does it matter my Lord, if through all the ups and downs of our lives we can see that You have always been with us, never once forsaken us, and have found even better solutions to our difficulties brought about by the injustice of those we have had every reason to trust?

Let us be at peace and rejoice that we are Your people the sheep of Your flock. We belong to You and we can trust You for You are the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and You will judge us all with fairness.

MATTHEW 25:14-30 ©

My Soul's Beloved,

As members of Your Body, baptized into Your Church, we each have received special graces through the Sacraments that You instituted. They are the wellspring of rich graces that flow perennially from the Holy Spirit to us. We are all given talents each according to our ability. Some received five, others two, and still others one. It matters not so much how many talents we have received from You, but what is of grave importance is what we do with what we have received.

Today's parable reminds us that as disciples we are accountable to You and we will be called to give a strict account of our lives when we stand before You to be judged at the end of our lives.

To which category of Your servants do I belong and what have I done with my life thus far? There is a clear hierarchy here, as there always is in Your Church, some are given greater responsibilities as overseers and shepherds of Your flock, but what about us who have received two and one talent? 

Many of us do only the minimal - we just barely stay within the lines - we are nominal Catholics who have not been worthy guardians of the wealth God has bestowed upon and for which we will have to account.

Thank You, Lord, for this timely reminder today that those to whom much is given much is expected. Catholics have received the fullness of truth, beauty, and goodness in the Church and we will be called to give a strict account of how we have squandered the wealth that is lavished on us. If we have been like the man who on receiving one talent went off, dug a hold in the ground and hid his master's money, we will hear You say to us, “You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return, I would have recovered my capital with interest.' If on the other hand, we have been honest stewards of Your riches like the servants who received five and two talents we will hear You say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”

Let us work sincerely for all our todays will eventually come to an end and we will stand face to face before You to be judged, then we will not be ashamed and cast away from Your Presence.