FIRST READING
“Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.”
A reading from the Book of Revelation (Revelation 4:1-11)
I, John, looked, and behold, in heaven an open door! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here; and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne! And he who sat there appeared like jasper and carnelian, and round the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald. Round the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns upon their heads. From the throne issue flashes of lightning, and voices and peals of thunder, and before the throne burn seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God; and before the throne there is as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And round the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first liking creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all round and within, and day and night they never cease to sing, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty—four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 150:1b-2.3-4.5-6 (R. Revelation 4:8b)
R/. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.
Or: Alleluia.
Praise God in his holy place;
praise him in his mighty firmament.
Praise him for his powerful deeds;
praise him for his boundless grandeur. R/.
O praise him with sound of trumpet;
praise him with lute and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance;
praise him with strings and pipes. R/.
R/. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.
Or: Alleluia.
O praise him with resounding cymbals;
praise him with clashing of cymbals.
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! R/.
ALLELUIA John 15: 16
Alleluia. I chose you from the world that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide, says the Lord. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Why did you not put my money into the bank?”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 19:11-28)
At that time: Jesus proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive kingly power and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Trade with these till I come.’ “But his citizens hated him and sent an embassy after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ “When he returned, having received the kingly power, he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten pounds more.’ “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ “And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ “And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ “Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound, which I kept laid away in a napkin; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.’ “He said to him, ‘I will condemn you out of your own mouth, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my coming I should have collected it with interest?’ “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the pound from him, and give it to him who has the ten pounds.’ “(And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds!’) “‘I tell you that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.”’ And when Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY REFLECTION
God has endowed each and every one of his creatures with his gifts and blessings. These gifts are meant for the good of all. Hence these gifts should not be hoarded, misused, abused or hidden. God wants us to be active and productive in our use of his gifts. They are to be used for the good of our neighbours and for the greater honour and glory of God, as Psalm 150 makes so clear. We should bear in mind that we will be called upon by God to render an account of the gifts he gave to us.