Lectio Divina

(Sacred Reading)
November 17, 2023
For the Thirty-third Sunday in
Ordinary Time
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 Benedicite!
Let us remember that we are always
in the Most Holy Presence of God.

To those coming from other faith traditions

you may now make your sign of faith
as we make ours.

+In the Name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
 Opening Prayer
Prayer of St. John Chrysostom
before Reading the Sacred Scriptures

O Lord Jesus Christ, open the eyes of my heart

that I may hear your Word, and understand and
do your will, for I am a pilgrim upon the Earth.
Hide not your commandments from me, but open
my eyes, that I may perceive the wonders of your
Law. Speak unto me the hidden and secret things
of your wisdom.
 Opening Prayer
Prayer of St. John Chrysostom
before Reading the Sacred Scriptures

On you do I set my hope, O my God, that you

shall enlighten my mind and understanding with
the light of your knowledge; not only to cherish
those things which are written, but to do them;
For you are the enlightenment of those who lie in
darkness, and from you comes every good deed
and every gift. Amen.
 Lectio
“Take a Bite”
of the Word
 Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"A man going on a journey
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to
them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third,
one--
to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.
 Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30
Immediately the one who received five talents went
and traded with them,
and made another five.
Likewise, the one who received two made another two.
But the man who received one went off and dug a hole
in the ground
and buried his master's money.
 Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30
"After a long time
the master of those servants came back
and settled accounts with them.
The one who had received five talents came forward
bringing the additional five.
He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents.
See, I have made five more.' His master said to him,
'Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master's joy.'
 Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30
Then the one who had received two talents also came
forward and said,
'Master, you gave me two talents.
See, I have made two more.'
His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and
faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master's joy.'
 Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30
Then the one who had received the one talent came
forward and said,
'Master, I knew you were a demanding person,
harvesting where you did not plant
and gathering where you did not scatter;
so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the
ground.
Here it is back.'
His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy
servant!
 Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30

So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant

and gather where I did not scatter?
Should you not then have put my money in the bank
so that I could have got it back with interest on my
return?
Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the
one with ten.
 Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30
For to everyone who has,
more will be given and he will grow rich;
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
And throw this useless servant into the darkness
outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'"
Meditatio
“Chew”
on the Word
Meditate on the following questions:
• What word or words in this passage
caught your attention?
• What in this passage
comforted you?
• What in this passage
challenged you?
Contemplatio
“Digest”
the Word
 Reflection:
“Give”
by Fr. Harold Parilla
 Reflection
We hear from the Gospel for today what is
commonly known as the Parable of the Talents. It
begins with a man going away on a journey, but
before he leaves, he calls his servants and entrusts
his property to them. To the first he gives five
talents, to the second two talents, and to the third
he gives a single talent.
 Reflection
Like the other stories of Jesus, the Parable of the
Talents can be unsettling because at first glance it
does not come across as a spiritual story. On the
contrary, it sounds more like a business pitch by a
CEO motivating his people to achieve targets and
bring in more profit. Better incentives will come to
those who produce results!
 Reflection
What spiritual lesson then can we derive from the
Parable? If by deeper reflection we are able to
pierce through our initial impressions, I believe we
can find here two reminders: a presumption on the
one hand, and an exhortation on the other.
 Reflection
The presumption is that we all have received
blessings from the Lord. In different measures,
true, but always sufficient enough for every person
to achieve his salvation. These blessings are not in
any way tailored according to our worthiness.
Even before we begin to deserve it, God has
already blessed us. St Paul would say that even
when we were yet sinners, God already loved us
(cf. Rom 5:8).
 Reflection
Alongside the presumption however is a strong
exhortation. In the light of the approaching end of the
current liturgical year, this exhortation should be given
emphasis for our serious consideration.
 Reflection
What is the exhortation? It is to put our gifts to good use.
It is to acknowledge that the Lord has been kind and
generous to us, and to go out of our way to utilize
whatever we received from Him so that it will benefit
not just ourselves. These blessings and gifts that we have
received are meant to benefit others as well.

We thank the Lord for his kindness to us, and we beg of

him to inspire us to be generous with our gifts to others.
Oratio
“Savor”
the Word
 Closing Prayer
O loving God,
we thank you for the beautiful example
of the exemplary wife who works with loving
hands.
She fears you in a holy way.
By her good deeds, she gives you praise.
O mighty God,
we thank you for the energetic creativity
and wholehearted dedication of the “multi-
talented servants”.
 Closing Prayer
They teach us to be fruitfully involved in the affairs
of your kingdom.
Deliver us from the perverted logic of the “play-it-
safe” servant
who prefers to dig a hole in the ground and makes
your treasure idle.
That we may make a real impact in today’s history,
may we be personally involved in making your
kingdom come.
 Closing Prayer
Help us to use our talents fully and creatively
for the service of the Gospel.
Thank you for the life-witness of Saint Paul
who exhorts us to be ready for the Day of the Lord.
 Closing Prayer
As children of light,
may we imitate him in living the life of Christ
and radiate his Gospel to the world.
Please do not allow the Day of the Lord to overtake
us as a thief,
but rather, let it be for us a saving grace.
For the kingdom, the power and glory are yours,
now and forever.
Amen.
St. Benedict and St. Scholastica
Pray for us.
 Mary with her loving son,
+Bless us each and everyone
That in all things
God may be
glorified!
 Lectio Divina
(Sacred Reading)
November 17, 2023
For the Thirty-third Sunday in
Ordinary Time