Year 37 No.

21 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) — Green November 19, 2023

World Day of the Poor

TALENTS
GIVEN,
INVESTED,
AND
SHARED
by Fr. Nicanor Austriaco, O.P.

T oday is the seventh World

Day of the Poor, an annual
observance first established
of this we must give to the poor.
Some may think that it is
encounter angels (cf Heb 13:2).
R e m e m b e r : wh e n w e
enough to give a portion, maybe encounter the poor, we must
by Pope Francis in 2016 at the even a tenth, of their net wealth be ready to be surprised. We
conclusion of the Extraordinary to the poor. Though almsgiving may discover that we actually
Jubilee Year of Mercy. The Pope is blessed by God, this is have received more than
explained that he instituted rarely an encounter. Rather, what we have given. As Pope
the annual observance to an encounter is the meeting of Francis taught, the poor “can
“invite the whole Church, and two persons, equal in dignity, be teachers who help us live
men and women of good will equal in the capacity to love. the faith more consistently.
everywhere, to turn their gaze And so, we are called to share With their trust and readiness
on this day to all those who something more valuable than to receive help, they show us,
stretch out their hands and our wealth when we embrace in a quiet and often joyful way,
plead for our help and solidarity. a culture of encounter. We are how essential it is to live simply
… This Day is meant, above all, called to share our time with the and to abandon ourselves to
to encourage believers to react poor. God’s providence.”
against a culture of discard
and waste, and to embrace the Most meaningfully, I have Finally, at the end of time,
culture of encounter.” discovered that one of the on the day of the Lord which,
richest forms of human the Second Reading reminds
How are we to encounter encounter is the encounter us, will come when we least
the poor? In today’s Gospel, over a shared meal. Filipinos expect it, let us recall that we
our Lord Jesus Christ reveals that especially love to eat. Whether will be judged by our actions
his followers have been given a it is at a local Jollibee, or at a to help the least of the least.
number of talents, some amount neighborhood karinderya, or The Lord will separate us into
of wealth, which they are called even on the side of the road, sheep and goats depending on
to invest into the building up sharing something to eat allows how many of our talents we
of the Kingdom of God. Some us to connect. It allows us to have given to the poor. As St.
will have more. Others will meet, friend to friend, Christian John of the Cross remarked, “In
have less. But each of us has to Christian, heart to heart. It is the evening of life, we will be
something to share. And some at a shared meal where we can judged on love alone.”
 people of good will. We praise extends her arms to the needy.
THE INTRODUCTORY RITES you, we bless you, we adore Charm is deceptive and beauty
Entrance Antiphon you, we glorify you, we give fleeting; the woman who fears
(Jer 29: 11, 12, 14) you thanks for your great glory, the Lord is to be praised. Give
(Recited when there is no opening song.) Lord God, heavenly King, O her a reward for her labors, and
God, almighty Father. Lord let her works praise her at the
The Lord said: I think thoughts Jesus Christ, Only Begotten city gates.
of peace and not of affliction. Son, Lord God, Lamb of God,
You will call upon me, and —The word of the Lord.
Son of the Father, you take All—Thanks be to God.
I will answer you, and I will away the sins of the world,
lead back your captives from have mercy on us; you take Responsorial Psalm (Ps 128)
every place. away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer; you are R—Blessed are those who fear
Greeting the Lord.
(The sign of the cross is made here.) seated at the right hand of
the Father, have mercy on us. Sr. M. C. A. Parco, FSP

P—The grace of our Lord Jesus For you alone are the Holy
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E

   
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Christ, and the love of God, and One, you alone are the Lord,
the communion of the Holy you alone are the Most High, Bles sed are those who
Spirit be with you all. Jesus Christ, with the Holy
All—And with your spirit. Spirit, in the glory of God the
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A B7 E

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Father. Amen.
3

Introduction  
(These [or similar words] may be Collect fe ar the Lord.

used to address the assembly.) P—Let us pray. (Pause)

Grant us, we pray, O Lord 1. Blessed are you who fear
P — G o d ’s b l e s s i n g s a r e the L ord ,/ who walk in his
bestowed on us not only for our God, the constant gladness
of being devoted to you, for ways!/ For you shall eat the
the good of self but for the fruit of your handiwork;/
building of God’s kingdom here it is full and lasting happiness
to serve with constancy the blessed shall you be, and
on earth. If we use our talents favored. (R)
for the spread of Christ’s Gospel author of all that is good.
and for the benefit of our Through our Lord Jesus 2. Your wife shall be like a
brothers and sisters, then we Christ, your Son, who lives and fruitful vine/ in the recesses
have profitably invested them, reigns with you in the unity of of your home;/ Your children
proving ourselves trustworthy the Holy Spirit, God, for ever like olive plants/ around your
servants of the Lord. and ever. table. (R)
All—Amen. 3. Behold, thus is the man
Penitential Act THE LITURGY blessed/ who fears the Lord./
P —Brethren (brothers and OF THE WORD The Lord bless you from Zion:/
sisters), let us acknowledge may you see the prosperity of
First Reading Jerusalem/ all the days of your
our sins, and so prepare (Prv 31:10–13, 19–20, 30–31) (Sit)
ourselves to celebrate the life. (R)
sacred mysteries. (Pause) The book of Proverbs, a collection Second Reading
P—You were sent to heal the of wise sayings, ends with a hymn (1 Thes 5:1–6)
contrite of heart: Lord, have in praise of the ideal mother and
mercy. wife. The inspired author pictures The apostle Paul reiterates the
All—Lord, have mercy. the ideal woman as one who uses need to stay alert for the coming of
her talents in the service of her the Lord. As “children of the light”
P—You came to call sinners: we must be immersed in works
family and of the poor.
Christ, have mercy. that prepare us for our encounter
All—Christ, have mercy. A reading from the Book of with the Lord.
P—You are seated at the right Proverbs
A reading from the first
hand of the Father to intercede
WHEN one finds a worthy Letter of Saint Paul to the
for us: Lord, have mercy.
wife, her value is far beyond Thessalonians
All—Lord, have mercy. pearls. Her husband,
P—May almighty God have entrusting his heart to her, CONCERNING times and
mercy on us, forgive us our has an unfailing prize. She seasons, brothers and sisters,
sins, and bring us to everlasting brings him good, and not you have no need for anything
life. evil, all the days of her life. to be written to you. For you
All—Amen. She obtains wool and flax yourselves know very well
and works with loving hands. that the day of the Lord will
Gloria She puts her hands to the come like a thief at night.
distaff, and her fingers ply When people are saying,
All — Glory to God in the the spindle. She reaches out “Peace and security,” then
highest, and on earth peace to her hands to the poor, and sudden disaster comes upon
them, like labor pains upon said, ‘Master, you gave me he suffered death and was
a pregnant woman, and they two talents. See, I have made buried, and rose again on the
will not escape. two more.’ His master said third day in accordance with
But you, brothers and to him, ‘Well done, my good the Scriptures. He ascended
sisters, are not in darkness, and faithful servant. Since into heaven and is seated at
for that day to overtake you you were faithful in small the right hand of the Father.
like a thief. For all of you matters, I will give you great He will come again in glory
are children of the light and responsibilities. Come, share to judge the living and the
children of the day. We are your master’s joy.’ Then the one dead and his kingdom will
not of the night or of darkness. who had received the one talent have no end.
Therefore, let us not sleep as came forward and said, ‘Master, I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the rest do, but let us stay alert I knew you were a demanding the Lord, the giver of life,
and sober. person, harvesting where you who proceeds from the Father
—The word of the Lord. did not plant and gathering and the Son, who with the
All—Thanks be to God. where you did not scatter; so Father and the Son is adored
out of fear I went off and buried and glorified, who has spoken
Alleluia (Jn 15:4a, 5b) your talent in the ground. Here through the prophets.
(Stand) it is back.’ His master said to I b e l i e ve i n o n e , h o l y,
All — Alleluia, alleluia. Remain him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy catholic, and apostolic Church.
in me as I remain in you, says servant! So you knew that I I confess one Baptism for the
the Lord. Whoever remains in harvest where I did not plant forgiveness of sins and I look
me bears much fruit. Alleluia, and gather where I did not forward to the resurrection
alleluia. scatter? Should you not then of the dead and the life of the
have put my money in the bank world to come. Amen.
Gospel (Mt 25:14–30) so that I could have got it back
with interest on my return? Prayer of the Faithful
P—A reading from the holy Now then! Take the talent from
Gospel according to Matthew. him and give it to the one with P—Let us pray to the Father
All—Glory to you, O Lord. ten. For to everyone who has, that we may learn to prepare
more will be given and he will for his Son’s coming by using
JESUS told his disciples this grow rich; but from the one well our gifts and every good
parable: “A man going on a who has not, even what he has opportunity so that our lives
journey called in his servants will be taken away. And throw may yield a rich increase of love
and entrusted his possessions this useless servant into the for the benefit of his glory. With
to them. To one he gave five darkness outside, where there confidence, we pray:
talents; to another, two; to a will be wailing and grinding
third, one—to each according of teeth.’” R—Father, listen to our prayer.
to his ability. Then he went
away. Immediately the one —The Gospel of the Lord.
All—Praise to you, Lord Jesus C—May the Church, your
who received five talents went people, be enlightened and
and traded with them, and Christ.
sanctified by your wisdom
made another five. Likewise, Homily (Sit) so that we may use well
the one who received two our talents and gifts for the
made another two. But the Profession of Faith (Stand) building up of your Kingdom.
man who received one went We pray: (R)
off and dug a hole in the All — I believe in one God,
ground and buried his master’s the Father almighty, maker of C—May political and civil
money. heaven and earth, of all things leaders as well as policemen
After a long time the visible and invisible. use their talents and power to
master of those servants came I believe in one Lord Jesus defend the life of the innocent
back and settled accounts Christ, the Only Begotten Son and to render justice to victims
with them. The one who of God, born of the Father of terrorism and violence. We
had received five talents before all ages. God from God, pray: (R)
came forward bringing the Light from Light, true God from
additional five. He said, true God, begotten, not made, C—May all workers here and
‘Master, you gave me five consubstantial with the Father; abroad who are experiencing
talents. See, I have made five through him all things were difficulties and struggles in
more.’ His master said to made. For us men and for our their work be comforted by
him, ‘Well done, my good salvation he came down from the love and care of their loved
and faithful servant. Since heaven, (At the words that follow, ones and their community. We
you were faithful in small up to and including and became pray: (R)
matters, I will give you great man, all bow.)and by the Holy
responsibilities. Come, share Spirit was incarnate of the C—Like the industrious and
your master’s joy.’ Then the Virgin Mary, and became man. reliable servants in the Gospel,
one who had received two Fo r o u r s a k e h e wa s may we appreciate hard and
talents also came forward and crucified under Pontius Pilate, honest work as means to build
our lives and our future. We
pray: (R)
C—That those who have
departed from this life may
enjoy eternal happiness in
the company of the saints in
heaven, we pray: (R)

C—Let us pray for the urgent

concerns of our community
and our personal intentions
(pause). We pray: (R)

P—Grant our petitions, O

Father, and strengthen us to
live as your faithful servants,
ever mindful of your goodness
and gifts to us.
Through Christ our Lord.
All—Amen.
THE LITURGY OF by whose obedience we happiness, to place my hope
THE EUCHARIST have been restored to those in God the Lord.
gifts of yours that, by sinning,
Presentation of the Gifts we had lost in disobedience. Prayer after Communion
(Stand) (Stand)
And so, Lord, with all
P—Pray, brethren… the Angels and Saints, we, P—Let us pray. (Pause)
All—May the Lord accept the too, give you thanks, as in We have partaken of the gifts
sacrifice at your hands for the exultation we acclaim: of this sacred mystery, humbly
praise and glory of his name, All—Holy, Holy, Holy...(Kneel) imploring, O Lord, that what
for our good and the good of your Son commanded us to do
all his holy Church. Acclamation (Stand) in memory of him may bring
Prayer over the Offerings All—When we eat this Bread us growth in charity.
and drink this Cup, we Through Christ our Lord.
P—Grant, O Lord, we pray, proclaim your Death, O Lord, All—Amen.
that what we offer in the sight until you come again.
of your majesty may obtain for THE CONCLUDING RITES
us the grace of being devoted THE COMMUNION RITE P—The Lord be with you.
to you and gain us the prize of All—And with your spirit.
everlasting happiness. The Lord’s Prayer
Through Christ our Lord. All—Our Father… Prayer over the People
All—Amen. P—Deliver us, Lord…
All—For the kingdom, the P—Bow down for the blessing.
Preface VII: Salvation through (Pause)
the obedience of Christ power and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Bestow pardon and peace,
P—The Lord be with you. O Lord, we pray, upon your
Invitation to Peace faithful, that they may be
All—And with your spirit.
P—Lift up your hearts. Invitation to Communion cleansed from every offense
(Kneel) and serve you with untroubled
All—We lift them up to the Lord.
P—Let us give thanks to the hearts.
P—Behold the Lamb of God, Through Christ our Lord.
Lord our God. behold him who takes away All—Amen.
All—It is right and just. the sins of the world. Blessed
P—It is truly right and just, are those called to the supper P—And may the blessing of
our duty and our salvation, of the Lamb. almighty God, the Father, and
always and everywhere to give All—Lord, I am not worthy the Son, (†) and the Holy Spirit,
you thanks, Lord, holy Father, that you should enter under come down on you and remain
almighty and eternal God. my roof, but only say the with you for ever.
For you so loved the world word and my soul shall be All—Amen.
that in your mercy you sent healed.
us the Redeemer, to live like Communion Antiphon Dismissal
us in all things but sin, so (Ps 73 [72]: 28)
that you might love in us P—Go forth, the Mass is ended.
what you loved in your Son, To b e n e a r G o d i s m y All—Thanks be to God.