Bulletin Insert

Bulletin Insert

For The Bulletin Of suffer. Instead, that economic condition, November 15, 2020 which characterized the time of Jesus (and perhaps even our own) becomes the folk wisdom reinforced by the parable. The lesson from the parable has to do with the intervening time between the resurrection and the coming of Christ. How will the disciples (the servants) invest their own talents in service of the master? One must risk oneself to earn a reward. The investment of talent, skills, and gifts will generate returns. The miserable disciple THE 33RD SUNDAY IN who invests nothing of himself, but instead ORDINARY TIME uses the time prior to the coming of the Lord merely to loaf around, will be punished. He From Father Robert is hardly worthy of the name servant The parable in today’s gospel follows (disciple). Interestingly, the reward for the immediately upon the parable we heard last first two is the same, “Come, share your Sunday. Both the parable of the wise and master’s joy.” But the third is exiled. foolish virgins and the parable of the talents speak to the coming of the Lord on the last Like last week’s parable, and many before, day. In each case there is a delay or an today’s story is an echo of the Matthean intervening time during which different church, which had both weeds and wheat in characters in the story respond and react its midst. There were industrious Christians, differently. In today’s story, the master investing their talents and skills in the entrusts money with three servants service of the Lord, and there were according to their ability. One receives five, freeloaders, who risked nothing of another two, and the last, one. The first two themselves for God. It would be a mistake invest the funds in a variety of activities and to read this parable in economic terms, they both double the money entrusted to endorsing a particular system or class of them. The third, however, buries the sole people. Instead, this parable is speaking to talent in the ground, depriving the master of life in the church prior to the coming of the simple interest it would have earned if it Jesus: am I a disciple who invests myself, had been deposited in a bank. Not my skills, and my talents for God? Or am I surprisingly, the master is furious with the content to let others do that work? To those third servant. who invest themselves, Jesus says, “Come, share your master’s joy.” Jesus concludes the parable with some folk wisdom, reflecting common attitudes of the day (and even today), with a phrase akin to “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” It would be a mistake to read this parable as somehow endorsing a political and economic system whereby the wealthy receive a majority of benefits while the poor 1 again some questions to help you in your reflection and meditation: The first reading describes a woman who “works with loving hands.” How do you work with your hands to serve others? St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians, “You are children of the light.” How do you strive to be light in places or times of darkness? Living The Paschal Mystery Life in a community can be a gift. We join The servant who buries his talent cites fear others who share a common purpose. We as the reason he hid it. Have you had to combine effort to achieve a common goal. battle fear in using your God-given talent? But in these cases, much like “group work” assigned to schoolchildren, there can be What is one gift or talent that you have freeloaders who live off the largesse of received from the hand of God and are using others’ efforts while contributing little to no to serve God’s people? effort of their own. The parable today reminds us that there will come a time when God will take stock of each person’s efforts. This is not our work to do, but God’s. When we hear this parable and others like it, we can be moved to action, investing ourselves more fully in the Christian life. And for the Gospel of Matthew that means service of others, especially the less fortunate. May this gospel motivate us to About Liturgy: You Have More Power continue serving without counting the cost, Than You Think investing full of ourselves and our talents. Shortly after the sex abuse crisis in the There will be an accounting, and when there church re-emerged in 2018, many called for is, we want to hear the words, “Come, share more participation by laypersons, especially your master’s joy.” women, in the reforms of the church and in its management. This call is absolutely As we come to the second to the last Sunday necessary, not because there is a crisis, but and week of this Liturgical Year, it is an because it is the rightful duty of all the appropriate time, especially given today’s baptized. gospel, to begin reviewing 2020 and how each of us has lived our lives as disciples of For far too long, we have equated leadership Jesus, how well we have used our gifts, and authority with ordination, making those talents, and resources in the service of God “in the pews” second-class citizens less and the kingdom. This reflection should responsible for sanctifying the world to reflect great gratitude and thanksgiving, not Christ because they did not have the gifts fear or dread, especially of the time of given by ordination. In other words, we’ve “accounting” that is to come. Here are once 2 left “real discipleship” to clergy while need to be made on Flocknote with a layperson merely “help Father.” maximum capacity of 100. Social Distancing and masks will be required. This does a disservice to laypersons and to Please watch for the Flocknote notification clergy because it minimizes the dignity, and reservation opportunity. mission, and gifts given by our common baptism. Baptism gives us gifts, and we each are mandated and authorized to use them in service of the reign of God. The members of the common priesthood of Christ cannot leave all the work of growing the kingdom to those who share in Christ’s ministerial priesthood. That would be like burying our talents. When we each recognize that baptism in Our Thanksgiving Outreach this year is Christ Jesus is the source of our power, we going “virtual.” Rather than purchasing the will have a chance – both women and men, ingredients for a Thanksgiving Basket and lay and ordained to reform and reshape the bringing it to church next weekend, we are church, where all belong, all are needed, and inviting you to make a contribution to this all are called to use their gifts. year’s effort, marking the memo line on your check to “Thanksgiving Outreach.” Please make out your check to St. Ignatius of Antioch Church. The monies received will be donated to our local St. Vincent de Paul Society which will in turn purchase vouchers for thanksgiving groceries. On Monday, November 23rd, St. Vincent de Paul and our Knights of Columbus will distribute the vouchers along with a turkey to the families who have registered for this help. Many thanks to all those who have already contributed as well as to all those who will join us today and in the days ahead. The last day to make your Once again, this year we will gather for a contribution is next Sunday, November 22nd. Festive Celebration of Holy Eucharist on Thanksgiving Morning, November 26th, at 9:00 a.m. Both Father Moses and I will be present and, following our long-standing tradition, the homily this year will be given by several of our Confirmation Students. The liturgy will be taped by Lisa Lombardo for those who cannot be with us and will be available for viewing on our You Tube channel later in the day. Reservations will 3 The New Liturgical Year: Advent Sunday, November 29th, is the beginning of our new Liturgical Year and the First Sunday of Advent. The principal symbol of this brief four-week season in preparation for the Christmas Feast is the Advent Wreath. The wreath is made of fresh evergreens and is decorated with three St. Nicholas Festival Dinner purple candles and one Antique Rose This year, because of the pandemic, our candle. Each week, a candle is lighted to St. Nicholas Festival Dinner will also go symbolize the thousands of years that “virtual” with a “Drive Up, Drive Through” humanity waited for the Savior to be born in dinner catered by Zandonella Catering. time. The Antique Rose Candle on the third week reminds us that the season is now half- Each dinner will be individually boxed and way through and the Christmas Feast draws ready to place in your car when you drive near. up. The cost is $30.00 per person. There will also be raffle prizes. Please see the My hope is that you will bring the Spirit of article in the bulletin or flyer attached to my Advent into your home by creating an Insert for all the details and the reservation Advent Wreath and placing it either in the form. This event takes place on Saturday center of your dining room table or on a evening, December 5th, from 6:15 to table in your family or living room. Fresh 7:00 p.m. in our parking lot. St. Nicholas evergreen wreaths are readily available from will be present to bless you and wish you the Costco or from a Christmas Tree lot.

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