ST CECILIA, V.M. (MEMORIAL) Red

Cecilia was a young patrician woman who vowed her virginity to God. However, her parents married her to Valerian of Trastevere. Through her prayers and persuasion, her husband was baptized. Valerian also wished that his own brother be baptised and asked this favour from an angel. The two brothers developed a ministry of giving proper burial to martyred Christians. They were arrested and martyred for their faith. Cecilia buried them at her villa on the Appian Way, and she was arrested for the action. She was ordered to sacrifice to false gods, and when she refused, she was martyred in turn.

First Reading: 2 Mac 7:1. 20-31; Psalm: 17. R. v. 15b; Gospel: Lk 19:11-28

INVESTING OUR TALENTS

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

The parable of today’s gospel presents to us the simple way to acquire insurmountable wealth in heaven. It suggests that the more we invest, the more we receive. The measure we put in is the measure we would receive. We cannot cling to what we have and expect something in return. It is in letting go that we gain. In the sight of the world, amassing more and more wealth makes us richer. But in the sight of God, giving away what we have makes us richer.

Our gifts, talents, and possessions are meant to be invested in the lives of the needy to better their condition. In the gospel parable of today, the crime of the third servant was that he did nothing with what was given to him. He kept the talent to himself unlike the other servants who invested their talents. If we do nothing with the gifts we have received from God; we will not only lose them here on earth but shall also lose them in the life to come. How much have we invested in the lives of people?

All that we have received from God are a test of how well we can use them. They are gifts from God to be managed by our own discretion. We should therefore be careful about the choices we make knowing that if we managed well that which is not our own, we shall be entrusted with a greater reward in heaven. We should not be idle, selfish and indifferent with life and with the potentials within our reach. Our gifts are not just by accident. They are capital investments that if well managed and utilised, will merit us an eternal reward in heaven.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, we pray for the grace to always put our gifts and talents to use. Amen.