Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Intention: For those entrusted with the care of the children and young people of our world, that they will be channels of God’s wisdom, compassion, fidelity, and love.
Today’s Gospel | Luke 19: 11-28
While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said, “A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, ‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’ He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’ Then the second came and reported, ‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’ And to this servant too he said, ‘You, take charge of five cities.’ Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’ He said to him, ‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’ And to those standing by he said, ‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ He replied, ‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.’”
After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.
From the Meditation on the Presentation of the Most Blessed Virgin | Saint John Baptist de La Salle
You have the happiness of being in God’s house, and you are bound there to his service. You must be filled with graces by the holy practice of prayer and strive to practice the virtues that are most fitting to your state. By these holy exercises, you will be able to fulfill your duties well, for you will not fulfill them as God requires of you except insofar as you are faithful to and diligent at the holy practice of prayer. By this means the Holy Spirit will come to you and will teach you, as Jesus Christ promises his holy Apostles, all the truths of religion and the maxims of Christianity that you must know and practice perfectly, because you are obliged to inspire them in others.
Prayer
Eternal Father, you give us so many gifts in life, yet at times we are afraid to share them. You ask us to bring peace to the world, but we watch while hatred and suffering spread. You ask us to give voice to your justice, but we stay silent when others are in need of compassion. Grant us the courage to use what you have given us freely and joyfully to build you Kingdom. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.