Saturday of the 21st week in ordinary time
1 Cor. 1: 26-31 Mathew 25: 14-30
Theme: The wisdom of God
In the 1st reading of today, from St. Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians, he points out the fact that God chooses the weak to shame the strong. He chooses ordinary people in the sight of the people and make them extra-ordinary people. We see that in the life of Jesus, he did not choose perfect or extra-ordinary people as his Apostles. But when he chose them, he empowered them for the mission ahead. Everybody he chose had a role to play in his mission. Including Judas Iscariot who later betrayed him. One thing that is very clear from todays 1st reading is the fact that we must always trust in God and emulate him in all that we do. In the life of Jesus, everyone was given the opportunity to play a role in his mission, that is why he was always inclusive in both his statement and in his actions.
This should also help us to be mindful of the way we write off people, because we feel we know them and they are not good enough, lest you make a very serious mistake. This mistake was made by some people, during the time of Jesus. For instance, when Jesus accepts to have a meal in the house of an individual whom the people see as a public sinner and have written off. This was the case in the call of Mathew. At the end of the day, Jesus changed the narrative of the life of St. Mathew. Today he is widely celebrated in Christendom because of the impact he made in the lives of people, during his mission. Stories like this abound in the scriptures, it is expected that we learn from it and be slow in condemning and writing people off, because God may decide to intervene and change the person’s story. Strictly speaking, is there anyone among us, who is perfect, and can become a success story with the grace of God?
That is why St. Paul said that if we must boast, let him who boasts, boast of the Lord. What this simply means is that we are all work in progress, because we are still alive. God can remember us at any point in time in our lives, because he never gives up on us, even when we give up on ourselves. In view of this, let us continue to do our best and pray that the mercy of God will locate us and change the narrative of our lives.
In the gospel reading of today from St. Mathew, we are presented with the parable of the talents. Those who used their talents wisely was given more, and the one that did not make good use of his own, lost what he had. This brings me to a very important question today, what are you doing with the gifts that God has given to you? Remember, a time will come for you to account for the gifts you received from God. May the Lord bless his words in our hearts, in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, Amen. Peace be with you.