Today is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time and also the last Sunday before Thanksgiving. In most years that would mean it’s also Christ the King Sunday, but due to the way the calendar falls in 2017, we won’t celebrate that feast until next weekend after Thanksgiving. This is one of the rare years that the liturgical season of Advent will fall entirely in the month of December, beginning on Dec. 3. That may be of interest to only a few of us liturgy nerds, but I for one like those quirky Catholic facts.
We’ll address Christ the King next week, but before we do, let’s look at this 33rd Sunday, which will be the last Sunday the clergy will wear green vestments until well into January. Our Gospel is a long one, the Parable of the Talents. When we hear the word “talent” in this day we immediately think of a skill that someone has developed well, like singing, dancing, woodworking, painting, or some other artistic or athletic ability. However, in the Judaism of Jesus’ day, a talent was a monetary unit of high value, variable depending on the metal used as well as its place of origin. Even one talent gives the servant a significant amount of money, and the master expects a return on his investment.
We do well to ask ourselves how are we “investing” the talent (i.e., gifts) that God has given us? We have been entrusted with so many riches, and not necessarily financial, artistic, or athletic gifts, but rather our very lives. How does God’s return on investment look within us? Does our faith show forth in what we say and do? The master is coming, of that we can be sure, and he’s going to want to see what we’ve done with what He has entrusted to us. Live in a manner that produces an abundance of joy and mercy. That is, after all, what the master wants the most of all – a multiplication of the very gifts He has first given to us.
It stands to reason as well that having received these gifts from God that we should also offer thanks for the many blessings that fall upon us. That is the root of our celebration this week of Thanksgiving. This week always brings with it the start, whether we like it or not, of the “holiday season.” Some stores even now open on Thanksgiving Day, as hard as it is for me to believe it. Let’s resolve to greet this extra busy time of the year with joy in our hearts. It can be so easy to allow the busyness of this time of year to overwhelm us. We stress out and worry about so much that is beyond our control. If we can remember to always be “thankful” for all that we have in our lives (and return that thanksgiving to God first), then I am willing to bet we’ll approach the season with the right frame of mind. When we get anxious and worried, short-tempered and “me-centered,” then we quickly lose the joy. Give thanks always and allow the Lord to guide you peacefully through this busy season.
Though not a Church holy day, we will have Thanksgiving Mass at 9 a.m. this Thursday, Nov. 23 in the main church. You are invited to bring items from the Thanksgiving meal you will be serving that day for the annual Blessing of Food at the end of Mass. This has become a nice tradition each year for families to start this special day giving thanks to God for the many blessings we have received. Bring a basket with some of the items for the dishes you will be preparing and at the end of the Mass we’ll ask God’s blessing upon them. It’s a good way of making the connection between the bounty we receive at the table of the Lord to the bounty we offer at our table at home.
One other slight tweak to our schedule this week is that we will not celebrate confessions or Mass on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the night before Thanksgiving. Both will resume the following week, along with the Wednesday morning school Mass.
Our
parish bulletin advertising representative, Javier Aguilera, will be in the office this week through Wednesday and again next week, Nov. 27-30. If you operate a business, please consider placing an ad in the bulletin. We publish 2,000 bulletins every week which go out to households across the Cypress and northwest Houston area. It’s a great way to get the name of your company out in front of the greater Catholic community. Make sure you use the bulletin when you are in the market for goods and services and tell businesses you saw their ad in the CtR bulletin. I often see comments on Facebook of parishioners seeking recommendations for a particular trade or service, and I always respond, “Look at the back of your CtR bulletin!” There’s any number of fellow parishioners who are ready to respond to your needs, from car repair, to real estate, to plumbing, to tax service and so much more.
I also encourage you to take a bulletin with you when you go to a shop or store that advertises with us and thank them for their support. Ads of all sizes are available at very economical prices and it helps us print the bulletin at no cost to the parish. You can also use it to promote a parish organization or place a personal memorial ad such as “Pray for Vocations,” or “In Memory of ...” Call the parish this week (281-469-5533) and Javier will be happy to help you reserve your ad space.
Fr. Ralph is on vacation with his family for the next few weeks over the holidays, but he and the pastoral staff join me in wishing you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving. Our Parish Offices will be closed beginning at 12 noon on Wednesday, Nov. 22 and will re-open on Monday, Nov. 27 at 9 a.m.