21 Week in Ordinary Time, Sept.2, 2006

Scripture: I Cor.1:26-31. Psalm 33:12-13,18-21. Matthew 25:14-30

Our seminarians were in Toronto for their theology a couple of decades ago. At that time, a very good Scripture scholar named Fr. David Stanley, S.J. liked the Marianists and befriended one of our seminarians who now is a great formation person and leader in Kenya. Fr. Stanley wrote a book entitled "Boasting in the Lord" and for me it was one of the finest books I have read on the prayer life of St.Paul. I was reminded of the author and his work as I read today's last line from the first reading, " Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." (I Cor. 1:31). This expression is perfect for expressing the way Paul prayed and I think of it everytime I see his petitions and doxologies in his letters. "Boasting in the Lord...is the acknowledgment that we live only from God and in God." (Catholic Study Bible, p.1519).

Psalms are prayers that "boast in the Lord." We have 150 of them and they are always part of the Eucharist through our liturgical readings and the response that follows. Today it is part of Psalm 33 : "Happy the people the Lord has chosen to be his own" and especially, "Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our help and our shield,for in him our hearts rejoice; in his holy name we trust." The Psalms help us to boast in the Lord and not in ourselves.

Jesus challenges us today by giving us another parable of the kingdom. This one is about three servants who were given a considerable amount of money to be used for the good of the owner and his property. Two did very well with the talents he gave them and doubled them. The last did not but just kept it safe and secure without gaining any interest. This calls us to enlist our prayer and our actions in such a way that they are effective. We are not to hide them from others or from ourself! We are called to use our gifts of heart and mind for the sake of God's kingdom which is one of peace and justice. Through our prayer life we are led to thank God for these gifts and then to use them to develop our spiritual lives and to help others. We then are consoled when we hear the Lord saying to us, " Well done, good and faithful servant. Come share your Master's joy. Amen."