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Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial of Saint Monica (27th August, 2016) on the Gospel and the Memorial

 

1Cor 1:26-31;
Ps 32:12-13.18-21. (R. cf. v. 12);
Matt 25:14-30.

Saint Monica was born on 331 AD in Thagaste and was married to a pagan, Patricius at a very tender age. Her children were Saint Augustine (August 28), Navigius, and Perpetua. She endured her husband’s and her mother’s-in-law bad temper.  Although Patricius criticized her for her charity and piety, but he always respected her. She later won him and her mother-in-law to Christianity. She stopped Augustine from eating and sleeping in her house when he accepted the Manichean heresy and was living immoral life. Monica readmitted him after a vision that assured her that Augustine would return to the faith. She stayed too close to Augustine with prayers and fasting than he wanted. Augustine tricked her and left for Rome. On her arrival, she learnt that he had left for Milan. She did not give-up. In Milan, Augustine came under the influence of the bishop, Saint Ambrose, who also became Monica’s spiritual director. Saint Ambrose baptized Augustine and several of his friends at Easter, 387. Soon after, they left for Africa. She became ill and suffered severely for nine days and died on 387 AD in Ostia Antica. She is the patron Saint of Alcoholics, Married women, and Mothers.
Topic: Put your talent/s into use.
Jesus also compared the kingdom of heaven to a man who before going on a journey entrusted his property to his slaves. He gave five talents to one, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his ability. The one who received five and the other who received two traded with theirs immediately and doubled them. On the contrary, the slave who received one talent dug a hole and hid it. On the master’s return, the slave who received five talents and the one who received two received the same verdict, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” However, when the one who received one talent came forward, he reported,
Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.
The one talent was taken away and given to the one with ten. And the slave was thrown into the outer darkness, a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Their master expected each to yield fruits according to the talents given, cf. Lk 12:48. Hence the one who doubled five talents and the other who doubled two received the same reward.
In the same vein, each of us is required to produce fruits according to the number of talent/s given. The words of Saint Paul were fulfilled in the life of Saint Monica, “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1Cor 10:13). We ought to imitate Saint Monica who did not allow evil to overcome her, she overcame evil with good, cf. Rom 12:21.

Bible Reading: Lk 12:41-48.

Thought for today: Use your talent/s.

Let us pray: Lord, give us the grace to make the best use of all the talents you have given us – Amen.

Saint Monica – Pray for us.

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