The Three Weeks of Commemoration
The last three weeks of the Epiphany Season prior to entering the Lenten Season are the Sundays of commemoration where we remember the Deceased Priests, the Righteous and Just, and the Faithful Departed.
This Sunday we celebrate the Sunday of the Deceased Priests.
We pray that their death may be a doorway to the eternal life offered by Jesus to all those who strive to live a life of faithfulness in the service of others.
Sunday of the deceased priests
Gospel: Luke 12,42-48.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 12,42-48.
42The Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 45But if that slave says to himself, "My master is delayed in coming", and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. 47That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. 48But one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.
Reflection 1
The faithful and prudent steward
In today’s gospel, Jesus told his disciples the parable of the faithful and prudent steward.
This parable encourages believers to be faithful, responsible, and vigilant servants of Christ, always ready for His return, and to use their time and resources wisely in service to others.
The faithful and prudent servant knows how to discern the signs of the spirit. However, the unfaithful servant decides to delay the coming of his master, indulging in excess rather than providing nourishment and becoming intoxicated instead of serving. The reasons for intoxication are many: intoxication from glory, wealth, self-sufficiency, pleasure, laziness, addiction, and indifference.
Being a faithful steward of God’s gifts needs acknowledging that everything belongs to God. It involves recognising that all we possess is a gift from God, and our role is that of a steward entrusted with these gifts.
Do we provide nourishment, and what kind of nourishment do we offer to those entrusted to our care?
The Priest as the Representative of Christ
He is appointed to provide the nourishment of the Word, grace, and love in due time, continuously and diligently, to the members of his household.
-Food of the Word: Through preaching, teaching, and guidance, the priest roots the believers in Christ through the Word of God.
-Food of Grace: The priest distributes grace through the sacraments of the Church, sanctifying believers and nourishing their souls. This especially occurs through the grace of the Eucharist, divine mercy, and reconciliation.
-Food of Love: As much as the priest loves God, he loves all people, for God's love for every individual flows through the heart of the priest and his love.
A thought for the week
"The faithful are those who not only possess knowledge of God's will but also actively live in accordance with it."
'The worthy priest is an angel of purity in mind and body, a cherub of light and knowledge, a seraph of love and Charity, an apostle of zeal in work and sanctity, a little god on earth in power and authority, in patience and benignity. He is the living image of Christ in this world, of Christ watching, praying, preaching, catechizing, working, weeping, going from town to town, from village to village, suffering, agonizing, sacrificing Himself and dying for the souls created to His image and likeness. . . He is the light of those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He is the destroyer of error, schisms and heresies, the converter of sinners, the sanctifier of the just, the strength of the weak, the consolation of the afflicted, the treasure of the poor...’
St. Jean Eudes
The last three weeks of the Epiphany Season prior to entering the Lenten Season are the Sundays of commemoration where we remember the Deceased Priests, the Righteous and Just, and the Faithful Departed.
This Sunday we celebrate the Sunday of the Deceased Priests.
We pray that their death may be a doorway to the eternal life offered by Jesus to all those who strive to live a life of faithfulness in the service of others.
Sunday of the deceased priests
Gospel: Luke 12,42-48.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 12,42-48.
42The Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 45But if that slave says to himself, "My master is delayed in coming", and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. 47That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. 48But one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.
Reflection 1
The faithful and prudent steward
In today’s gospel, Jesus told his disciples the parable of the faithful and prudent steward.
This parable encourages believers to be faithful, responsible, and vigilant servants of Christ, always ready for His return, and to use their time and resources wisely in service to others.
The faithful and prudent servant knows how to discern the signs of the spirit. However, the unfaithful servant decides to delay the coming of his master, indulging in excess rather than providing nourishment and becoming intoxicated instead of serving. The reasons for intoxication are many: intoxication from glory, wealth, self-sufficiency, pleasure, laziness, addiction, and indifference.
Being a faithful steward of God’s gifts needs acknowledging that everything belongs to God. It involves recognising that all we possess is a gift from God, and our role is that of a steward entrusted with these gifts.
Do we provide nourishment, and what kind of nourishment do we offer to those entrusted to our care?
The Priest as the Representative of Christ
He is appointed to provide the nourishment of the Word, grace, and love in due time, continuously and diligently, to the members of his household.
-Food of the Word: Through preaching, teaching, and guidance, the priest roots the believers in Christ through the Word of God.
-Food of Grace: The priest distributes grace through the sacraments of the Church, sanctifying believers and nourishing their souls. This especially occurs through the grace of the Eucharist, divine mercy, and reconciliation.
-Food of Love: As much as the priest loves God, he loves all people, for God's love for every individual flows through the heart of the priest and his love.
A thought for the week
"The faithful are those who not only possess knowledge of God's will but also actively live in accordance with it."
'The worthy priest is an angel of purity in mind and body, a cherub of light and knowledge, a seraph of love and Charity, an apostle of zeal in work and sanctity, a little god on earth in power and authority, in patience and benignity. He is the living image of Christ in this world, of Christ watching, praying, preaching, catechizing, working, weeping, going from town to town, from village to village, suffering, agonizing, sacrificing Himself and dying for the souls created to His image and likeness. . . He is the light of those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He is the destroyer of error, schisms and heresies, the converter of sinners, the sanctifier of the just, the strength of the weak, the consolation of the afflicted, the treasure of the poor...’
St. Jean Eudes