Daily Gospel Reflection for November 18, 2015

Today's Gospel: Luke 19:11-28

Optional Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Optional Memorial of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin

Today’s gospel talks about a king who was not wanted by his fellow citizens but who obtained kingship anyway. He commissions ten servants to take an investment he gives them and to multiply it. It’s so interesting that he does not give them explicit instructions but that he fully expects them to figure out how to turn the investment into profit. The king admits that he is a demanding man. He sounds like a gambling man, too, entrusting his servants with a precious commodity and expecting them to turn it into profit. Odder, still, is that the one who risked the most, who could have potentially lost it all, was the one who brought back the most profit and the one who didn’t dare risk at all was punished. Furthermore, those citizens that did not want him as king were also killed.

Ponder:

God has entrusted us with an investment of gifts and talents. There are no gifts we have that do not come from him. He fully expects us to use these gifts, not keep them hidden. He is demanding that we bring back a profit for the kingdom. He tells us that he will cut off branches that produce no fruit. This is a tough thing to hear.

Pray:

Dear Lord, I repent of all the times I have kept my light under a bushel out of fear of rejection or ridicule from others. Thank you for all the good gifts and blessings with which you have endowed me. Give me the courage and fortitude to use my gifts to win souls for you. Amen.

We thank our friends at The Word Among Us for providing our gospel reflection team with copies of Abide In My Word 2015: Mass Readings at Your Fingertips. To pray the daily gospels with this wonderful resource, visit The Word Among Us.

Copyright 2015 Victoria Garaitonandia Gisondi