minggu biasa 33 - a - i

8/3/2019 Minggu Biasa 33 - A - I

1/26

Welcome toour Bible Study

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time A

November 13, 2011

In preparation for this Sundays Liturgy

In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing


2/26

1st reading: Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31

10 When one finds a worthy wife, her value is farbeyond pearls. 11 Her husband, entrusting his heart toher, has an unfailing prize. 12 Shebrings him good, andnot evil, all the days of her life. 13 She obtains wool and

flax and makes cloth with skillful hands. 19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply

the spindle. 20 She reaches out her hands to the poor,and extends her arms to the needy.

30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the womanwho fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her areward of her labors, and let her works praise her at thecity gates.

The focus is on a worthy wife.


3/26

1st reading: Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31

10 When one finds a

worthy wife, her value is farbeyond pearls. 11 Herhusband, entrusting hisheart to her, has anunfailing prize. 12 Shebrings him good, and notevil, all the days of her life.13 She obtains wool and

flax and makes cloth withskillful hands. 19 She puts her hands to

the distaff, and her fingersply the spindle. 20 Shereaches out her hands tothe poor, and extends herarms to the needy.

30 Charm is deceptive andbeauty fleeting; the womanwho fears the LORD is tobe praised. 31 Give her areward of her labors, andlet her works praise her atthe city gates.

Commentary:

V.10 says a man is lucky if he finds a worthywife. She is more valuable than pearls.

V.11 is parallel to v.10. His wife is priceless.

Actions of the worthy wife: She brings her husband good (v.12) She obtains wool, makes cloth (v.13) She puts her hands // her fingers (she

weaves) (parallelism) (v.19)

She reaches out to the poor // extends tothe needy (parallelism) (v.20)

V.30 contrasts the attributes of a worthy wife tocharm (deceptive) // beauty (fleeting,temporary). (parallelism)

Hirit pa: the woman who fears the Lord, is to bepraised

V.31 gives a tall order: Give her a reward// lether works praise her (parallelism)


4/26

Reflections on the 1st reading

It is important for man to find a good wife. A good wife is a true treasure. She is priceless. A good wife is one who is responsible, hard

working, practical, and has a heart for the poor(sense of justice).

A good wife does not cause her husband hisdownfall.

A good wife does not need to be charming andbeautiful. Looks can be deceptive.

A good wife is God-fearing. She deserves a reward and recognition from all of

us. Is there still a woman who is like this?


5/26

Resp. Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 R. (cf. 1a) Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

1 Blessed are you who fear the LORD,who walk in his ways!2 For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;blessed shall you be, and favored.

3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vinein the recesses of your home;Your children like olive plantsaround your table.

4 Behold, thus is the man blessedwho fears the LORD.5 The LORD bless you from Zion:may you see the prosperity of Jerusalemall the days of your life.


6/26

Resp. Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 R. (cf. 1a) Blessed are thosewho fear the Lord.

1 Blessed are you who fear theLORD, who walk in his ways!2 For you shall eat the fruit of yourhandiwork;

blessed shall you be, and favored.

3 Your wife shall be like a fruitfulvine in the recesses of your home;Your children like olive plantsaround your table.

4 Behold, thus is the man blessedwho fears the LORD.5 The LORD bless you from Zion:may you see the prosperity ofJerusalemall the days of your life.

Commentary

In v.1, the psalmist recognizesthose who fear God as blessed.

Vv.2-3 enumerate the blessings ofwalking in Gods ways (fearingGod):

To eat the fruit of your work, v.2 Your wife shall be fruitful, v.3 Your children shall be like olive

plants, v.3 V.4 repeats the idea of v.1. V.5 indicates the place from where

we are blessed: fromZion/Jerusalem. To be blessed is to prosper.


7/26

Reflections on the Psalm

We should fear the Lord (refrain fromviolating his laws).

To fear God is to walk in his ways.

Blessed (happy, fortunate) are we if we fearGod.

God promises us his blessings.

Abundant food Joy

Healthy children

Healthy environment


8/26

2nd reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

1 Concerning times and seasons, brothers, youhave no need for anything to be written to you.2 For you yourselves know very well that theday of the Lord will come like a thief at night. 3When people are saying, "Peace and security,"

then sudden disaster comes upon them, likelabor pains upon a pregnant woman, and theywill not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not indarkness, for that day to overtake you like a

thief. 5 For all of you are children of the lightand children of the day. We are not of the nightor of darkness. 6 Therefore, let us not sleep asthe rest do, but let us stay alert and sober.

The focus is on the day of the LORD.


9/26

2nd reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 1 Concerning times and

seasons, brothers, you haveno need for anything to bewritten to you. 2 For youyourselves know very wellthat the day of the Lord willcome like a thief at night. 3When people are saying,"Peace and security," thensudden disaster comes uponthem, like labor pains upon apregnant woman, and theywill not escape. 4 But you,brothers, are not in darkness,

for that day to overtake youlike a thief. 5 For all of youare children of the light andchildren of the day. We arenot of the night or ofdarkness. 6 Therefore, let usnot sleep as the rest do, butlet us stay alert and sober.

Commentary In v.1 St. Paul talks about times

and seasons (time of the Lord). V.2 spells out what Paul really

means. The day of the Lord. The day of the Lord comes like a

thief at night. It means it comes without warning.

It is unexpected.

The proper action is vigilance. V.3 further explains how to prepare

for the day of the Lord. People should not be nave to

believe what other people (ignorantof Gods mysteries and plans) say.

Those people do not know whatthey are doing are living indarkness. They mislead.


10/26

2nd reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 1 Concerning times and

seasons, brothers, you haveno need for anything to bewritten to you. 2 For youyourselves know very wellthat the day of the Lord willcome like a thief at night. 3When people are saying,"Peace and security," thensudden disaster comes uponthem, like labor pains upon apregnant woman, and theywill not escape. 4 But you,brothers, are not in darkness,

for that day to overtake youlike a thief. 5 For all of youare children of the light andchildren of the day. We arenot of the night or ofdarkness. 6 Therefore, let usnot sleep as the rest do, butlet us stay alert and sober.

In v.4, Paul says that theThessalonians do not live indarkness. They will not beovertaken by that day.

By virtue of their faith, they

are children of the day andlight. V.5 V.6 exhorts the Christians to

be vigilant, alert and sober. Those who are in darkness

sleep and get drunk. They dont care about their

future.


11/26

Reflections on the 2nd reading

The day of the Lord is the end of time. For Paul, time is not only the past, present and

future, but also the end.

It is the second coming of Jesus Christ (parousiafor the theologians)

The thought of the end should help Christians tolead moral lives.

The second coming of Jesus brings judgment tothe unrepentant sinner, but salvation to the just

and vigilant. The reading reminds us, people of today, who

seldom think about the end of the world, thatthere is such a thing as, the end.


12/26

Gospel reading: Mt 25:14-30 or25:14-15, 19-21

The man entrusting his talents

14 A man who was going on a journey called in hisservants and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 Toone he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one -- to each according to his ability. Then he went away.Immediately 16 the one who received five talents wentand traded with them, and made another five. 17Likewise, the one who received two made another two.18 1 But the man who received one went off and dug ahole in the ground and buried his master's money.


13/26

The faithful servant with 5 talents more

19 After a long time the master of those servants cameback and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who hadreceived five talents came forward bringing the additionalfive. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, Ihave made five more.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well

done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithfulin small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.Come, share your master's joy.'

The faithful servant with 2 talents more 22 (Then) the one who had received two talents also came

forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, Ihave made two more.' 23 His master said to him, 'Welldone, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithfulin small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.Come, share your master's joy.'


14/26

The unfaithful servant without any gain 24 Then the one who had received the one talent came

forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demandingperson, harvesting where you did not plant and gatheringwhere you did not scatter; 25 so out of fear I went off andburied your talent in the ground. Here it is back.' 26 Hismaster said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! Soyou knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather

where I did not scatter? 27 Should you not then have putmy money in the bank so that I could have got it back withinterest on my return? 28 Now then! Take the talent fromhim and give it to the one with ten. 29 1 For to everyonewho has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but

from the one who has not, even what he has will be takenaway. 30 And throw this useless servant into the darknessoutside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'


15/26

Commentary The parable is entitled The Parable of the Talents.

St. Matthew places this parable towards the end of hisgospel, along with the parables concerning the end of theworld, before the passion narrative. (Matthew 25)

There is a pattern: 1st servant, 2nd servant, 3rd servant(also in entrusting, in responding, and in accounting)

The 3rdservant (the lazy one) receives longer footage,more attention than the others.

The gospel seemingly promotes capitalism.(bank, interest,making more money), but, that is not the point.

The teaching (saying in v. 29) needs more explanation. It is awarning to those who do not produce anything. It is akind of stripping (recalling) of anything that is left in anunproductive person.


16/26

To entrust ones property (huge amount) toservants is not a joke.

Imagine: 1 talent = laborers wage for 15 years Todays minimum wage and ECOLA = Php 404 x 24

days x 12 months x 15 years = Php 1,745,280.00.

(Php 1.7M)


17/26

Reflections on the gospel reading

God has entrusted us with many gifts. We arefully equipped to be productive.

The gifts must be used, developed andmultiplied.

God recognizes the capacity of each one andexpects each one to perform accordingly.

God is prodigious and lavish in entrusting.Exaggerated even. Unbelievable, very flattering

but hard to take for granted. We, too, must impress God in return.

We dont squander his gifts by doing nothing.


18/26

For God, there is no place for unproductivity. It iscontrary to our being the images and likenessesof God.

God considers everyone as capable ofproducing. Punishment awaits those who do not produce

anything in their lives.

Some people are not productive because of fear

and lack of faith (3rd

servant). They dont trustanyone, even the ones who can help them.

God will entrust more things to us if we areresponsive to him.


19/26

Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm

The first reading commends a wife, who is

responsible and productive.

The psalm commends people, who fear the

Lord (being productive).

The second reading talks about the Day of

the Lord, when the Lord comes to reward

those who are productive and to punish theevildoers.

The gospel reading talks about rewarding

the productive servants.


20/26

How to develop your homily / sharing

The end of time is usually associatedwith the second coming of Christ to

judge or reward us according to ourdeeds.

The three readings are strong on

productivity. In order to enter heaven,we must show diligence. We do goodworks.


21/26

The first reading praises a wife who isindustrious, diligent and productive.

She is an asset to her husband.

It also praises the wife who knows herpriorities.

She is not concerned about skin-deepbeauty and appearances, but fear of theLord.


22/26

The second reading warns us to be vigilant

always because we never know when Jesus will

come to judge us.

Jesus coming may be delayed, but still we areasked to watch our behavior.

We stay awake and vigilant until the end of days.

There is no end to waiting and watching.

Vigilance does not mean doing nothing.

We will be judged according to our deeds.


23/26

The gospel reading greatly rewards those who

respond to Gods challenge, with diligence and

creativity.

He has entrusted us with a lot of talents and

treasure.

We must be enterprising when it comes to Gods

interests.

God recognizes all the efforts we exert.

God rejects lazy people, who do not contributeanything good to this planet.

There is no place for irresponsible people in the

kingdom of God.


24/26

In our communities, we can easily spot people

who are accomplishers and who are not.

The accomplishers work with their minds and

hands. They are usually the quiet type.

The non-accomplishers talk more. Their glib talks

do not match their actions. They find it hard tomove their bodies to accomplish something.

They take so much time and energy to accomplish

a small thing, because they are not used to doing.

When they accomplish something, it is half-baked

and done haphazardly because they are not

convinced they should do it.


25/26

The eucharist helps us to be productive.

In the eucharist, Jesus strengthens us to be

productive as missionaries and evangelizers.

In the eucharist, we recognize our giftedness

and our ability to do a lot for God and for our

fellow believers.


26/26

Our Context of Sin and Grace

Laziness, sloth Gets tired easily (needs

physical check up)

No energy

Does not find work More concerned with

beauty, looks

Emphasis on externalappearance

Bad wife

Creative Enterprising

Responsive

Accountable

Spirituality of Stewardship Productive

Inventive, resourceful

Reads the signs of the

times Keen on the best

Does work with passion.

minggu biasa 33 - a - i

Documents