Living with Responsibility and Purpose

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: November 15, 2026

Readings: Proverbs 31:10–13, 19–20, 30–31; Psalm 128:1–5; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–6; Matthew 25:14–30

Willem de Poorter's The Parable of The Talents or Minas

We never know the results of the good works that we do. But one thing is sure: God is always pleased with our good works. For living such a worthy life, God will reward us. The quantity and quality of our works are measured by us. For God, it matters very little as long as we give our best. Some may be able to give 100% because they have strength, courage and talents; others may not be able to achieve this goal because they are simply not capable. As we celebrate the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, we are approaching the end of the liturgical year. As we have seen this month, the liturgical readings invite us to reflect on the end of our earthly journey, the coming of the Lord, and our accountability before God.

1. Everything we have is a gift from God

Today's Gospel, Matthew 25:14–30 presents us with the familiar Parable of the Talents. A master, before going on a journey, entrusts his property to three servants. To one he gives five talents, to another two, and to the third one, each according to his ability. Except the third, the first and second servants double the amount. For his lack of entrepreneurial skills, which included fear and irresponsibility, the third servant is given a severe punishment of being thrown into the dungeon

The talents represent the gifts, abilities, opportunities, time, relationships, resources and responsibilities that God has entrusted to each one of us. Each of us is uniquely gifted. Some are blessed with leadership qualities, others with intellectual abilities, creativity, compassion, communication skills or the capacity to inspire others. Some may have material resources, while others possess the gift of listening, encouraging and accompanying people. Ultimately, all these are to bring glory to God.

2. God expects us to bring out the best in us

None os us possess the same gifts. God gives according to each one's ability. Therefore, comparison has no place in Christian discipleship. We need not become jealous of what others possess or feel inferior because we have less. What matters is not how many talents we have received but how faithfully we use them. A gift becomes a blessing when it is shared; an ability becomes meaningful when it serves others.

The first two servants did not simply preserve what was entrusted to them; they made it grow. They took initiative, accepted responsibility and worked towards producing results. Christian life is not about merely protecting what we have received. It is about making our lives fruitful. 

3. Faithfulness in small things matters

God has given us life not simply to exist but to make a difference. He has given us faith not merely to keep it privately but to give witness to it. He has given us knowledge not merely for personal advancement but to enlighten others. He has blessed us with resources not merely for our comfort but also to care for those in need. The third servant was paralyzed by fear of investing.  Taking risks is important. 

We bury our talents because we are afraid of failure. We hesitate to take responsibility because we fear criticism. We avoid speaking the truth because we fear rejection. We fail to reach out to others because we fear being misunderstood. We postpone doing good because we are waiting for the perfect opportunity. Actually, often we are lazy, selfish, indifferent and fear mongers. Failing to try is a great tragedy. May all of us give our best, as God invites us to be. 

Questions for Personal Reflection

1. What are the unique talents and gifts that God has entrusted to me? Am I making good use of them?
2. Am I allowing fear, insecurity, laziness or the fear of failure to prevent me from becoming the person God wants me to be?
3. Am I becoming more compassionate? Am I growing in forgiveness? 

Concluding Prayer

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the countless gifts and blessings You have entrusted to me. Forgive me for the times I have buried my talents through fear, selfishness, laziness and indifference. Give me the courage to recognize my gifts and the wisdom to use them responsibly. May I grow in faith, love and generosity. Teach me to be faithful in small things, courageous in my commitments and generous in serving others. I make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen. 

- Fr. Olvin Veigas, SJ

E-mail: olvinveigas@jesuits.net

Blog: Celebrate Faith

Video: YouTube

12 November 2026

Being Watchful to Grab the Momentum

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time: November 08, 2026

Readings: Wisdom 6:12–16; Psalm 63:2–8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17; Matthew 25:1–13

Ten virgins - five wise, five foolish

To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/Tcgv_UlvnKY 

There is so much going on around us that we rarely keep pace with the things happening to us. Often we are lost because we have not given attention to small things. As a result, we miss big things. We regret and feel sorry that we were so stupid to miss such wonderful opportunities. Once the time passed, there is no point in brooding over, instead, get back to the senses and be ready to grab the future possibilities. As we continue to remember those who have passed and gone ahead to be with the Lord, the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time liturgical readings invite us, especially the Gospel reading, to remember that we must not miss the opportunities that are ahead of us. We must be attentive, watchful and ever ready to grab the momentum to win the race of our lives.

1. A Call to Spiritual Preparedness

In the Gospel of today, Matthew 25:1–13, Jesus presents the parable of the ten virgins who take their lamps and go out to meet the bridegroom. Five are wise and bring extra oil, while the other five are foolish and fail to prepare adequately. When the bridegroom is delayed, all of them become drowsy and fall asleep. But at midnight, the announcement comes: "Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!" The wise virgins are prepared, while the foolish ones find themselves without sufficient oil.

The Beatitudes — The Path to Holiness

The Solemnity of All Saints: November 01, 2026

Readings: Revelation 7:2–4, 9–14; Psalm 24:1–6; 1 John 3:1–3; Matthew 5:1–12

The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs by Fra Angelico

To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/2IsP8W5B7-g

The month of November is very special to us. We remember in this month all those who have gone before us. We fondly reminisce about those who are dear and near ones, who are no more with us on this earth. With great faith, we continue to pray for them, hoping that one day, we too may join them. Being baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, they started their journey in the person of Jesus Christ in His Church. The Church recognizes some as Saints and Blessed. We pray through their intercession, hoping to imitate them as we continue our life journey. On this Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints and the following day, All Souls. The liturgical readings on this Sunday invite us to listen to Jesus as he preaches the Sermon on the Mount and calls us to be "blessed" always.

1. Call to Holiness is for All

The Solemnity of All Saints is a celebration of the countless men and women who have reached the fullness of life with God. Some saints are known throughout the world, their names remembered in churches and history books. Others lived quiet, hidden lives of faithfulness, love, and sacrifice, known only to a few. Today, the Church celebrates them all. Their lives remind us that holiness is not reserved for a select few; it is the calling of every Christian.

Loving God Wholeheartedly and my Neighbour as Myself

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 25, 2026

Readings: Exodus 22:20-26; Psalm 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51; 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10; Matthew 22:34-40

William Blake, Christ Giving Sight to Bartimaeus

What is the reason for which we live in this world? It is to make this world beautiful, caring, loving and merciful. Each one may have his or her own views about this world and how one wants to make his or her life meaningful in fulfilling such a task. We cannot simply follow what others say and be like a parrot repeating what has been told to us. In this complex techno-centred super-intelligence world, our lives have turned out to be like machines, with less love, less compassion, less mercy and more ugliness than before. The reason is simple: we are becoming less human; there is less empathy, no niceties and only an "I don't care attitude". In this context, we have beautiful readings on this 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time reminding us that ultimately, it is only love that matters. Only love is credible. There is nothing less and nothing more.

1. Love is above everything

In today’s Gospel Matthew 22:34-40, a scholar of the law approaches Jesus with a question intended to test him: “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” The question arises in a religious tradition that contains many commandments, rules, and regulations. People often debated which commandments were the most important and how they should be observed.

A Never Ending Call to Live our Responsibility

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 18, 2026

Readings: Isaiah 45:1,4–6; Psalm 96:1,3–5, 7–10; 1 Thessalonians 1:1–5; Matthew 22:15–21 

Peter Paul Rubens on Render unto Caesar

There are certain boundaries in our lives. We are free to do certain things, but others are not. The constitution of a country gives rights and duties to its citizens. We are bound by rules, laws, morality, values, norms, etc. Some are written, and others are not. Some are enforceable by law, and others are not. All these elements have come into being in our society through past experiences. It could be one way of maturing in our society. The liturgical readings on this 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time give us very fascinating episodes of how, even in the past, people struggled with questions of following something. Even though we might not like to follow something, that is the way it is.

1. Called to live our responsibility

In the Gospel of Matthew 22:15–21, the Pharisees try to trap Jesus with a politically sensitive question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” The question came not with sincerity, but with malice. Based on the answer, the Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus. However, Jesus knew their thoughts, their hypocrisy, their malicious intent. With a simple coin that was found in the mouth of a fish, Jesus makes a straight but profound statement: “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

A Generous God Who Strengthens Us

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time:  October 11, 2026

Readings: Isaiah 25:6–10; Psalm 23:1–6; Philippians 4:12–14, 19–20; Matthew 22:1–14

Paolo Veronese, The Wedding at Cana
To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/sfS_l9a2RSk

Our experience shows us that our God is a God of abundance. Perhaps there might be some not-so-happy experiences in our lives where we must have lacked something, the thing that we desired; even through prayer, we did not receive it. It might be some things, some wishes. It might be good health, or a right partner or a right job, or a right place to stay or right people as our good friends. We might have lost hope in believing in fact, in the person whom we believed and prayed for so long. However, ultimately, we have realized in our lives that God does take care of us through various people or some incidents where we felt that God is near and has cared for us. The liturgical readings on this 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time give us wonderful insights which emphasize that God is good and caring. Therefore, we must cultivate a desire to have such a God in our lives.

1. God's Generous and Universal Invitation

The Gospel of Matthew 22:1–14, the Parable of the Wedding Feast, speaks powerfully about God’s invitation, human freedom, and the kind of life that should follow from accepting God’s grace. The king prepares a magnificent wedding feast for his son. The feast represents the abundance of God’s Kingdom. God does not invite us because we have earned it; He invites us because He loves us.

Bearing Fruits Worthy of God's Reign

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 04, 2025

Readings: Isaiah 5:1–7; Psalm 80:9, 12–16, 19–20; Philippians 4:6–9;  Matthew 21:33–43

Speculum Darmstadt
To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/sLTdaxpq6_A

All of us desire to follow the right path. We strive to achieve what is true, noble, honourable, just, pure, lovely, gracious and excellent. We find meaning in doing such things. It also puts us into what we are called to be. Human behaviour is mysterious and sometimes mischievous. However, deviation is part of our lives. We stumble, fall and make no headway in our effort to make things beautiful and trustworthy. We lose ourselves on the way. Returning becomes difficult. Only with divine providence and assistance, we can make our way back to our original home. The liturgical readings on this 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time are teaching us nothing but life lessons. If the Prophet Isaiah speaks about his unhappiness over the Israelites and their deviant behaviour, Jesus gives a parable of a Vineyard with wicked and crooked tenants. St Paul gives us a hymn of joy and invites us to live in peace and be true to our calling.

1. A life filled with hope and assurance 

St Paul, writing to the Philippians 4:6–9, invites us to reflect on two important dimensions of our Christian life: Trusting God in every circumstance and bearing fruit through a life of faithfulness. He writes so beautifully that the following words must be on our lips every day: "Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God." In other words, we must place everything in God's hands through prayer. In fact, prayer must lead to action, and faith must produce good fruits.

Saying “Yes” to God with Our Lives

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 27, 2026

Readings: Ezekiel 18:25–28; Psalm 25:4–9; Philippians 2:1–11; Matthew 21:28–32

Vineyard Workers

Change is possible in our lives. We may turn away from good things, but there is always a chance to get back. Our human spirit is mysterious. Often we find it difficult to understand ourselves. That's why regrets are part of our lives. We feel sorry for the things that have occurred in our lives. We try to mend our lives as well. As we read the Word of God on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, it encourages us to realize that we are two parts of the same coin. God always gives us another chance. It is up to us to take it forward.  

1. Right action follows from the right intention. 

Jesus tells us in  Matthew 21:28–32 about a father who asks his two sons to go and work in the vineyard. The first son initially says, “I will not,” but later changes his mind and goes. The second says, “Yes, sir,” but does not go. Jesus then asks, “Which of the two did his father’s will?” Certainly the first one. 

Being Attuned to the Thoughts of God

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 20, 2026

Readings: Isaiah 55:6–9; Psalm 145:2–3, 8–9, 17–18; Philippians 1:20–24, 27; Matthew 20:1–16

Parable of Workers in the Vineyard 
To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/C3rpiyRPl6Q

It is pretty normal for us to think that what we wish must happen to us. Therefore, we might get involved actively in the process of getting those things. However, things might not happen to us as we wish. In fact, there are other factors or elements attached to that which might not allow it to happen. As a result, we might begin to question or have suspicions about those things. This might cause us a lot of disappointment and helplessness. Even though we might decide on many things, there are things which may not be in our control. In this context, we have the beautiful Word of God on this 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, inviting us to delve deeper into the mind of God. As the prophet Isaiah says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts," so too are the ways of God. And still, we can connect with God by realizing the deeper mystery of our own lives. Jesus proposes a parable which completely shatters human logic. Hence, as we reflect over these uneasy facts of life, let's put ourselves into the logic of God. 

1. The Generous God Who Calls Everyone

The Gospel of Matthew 20:1–16 presents us with the beautiful and challenging parable of the workers in the vineyard. Jesus tells us about a landowner who goes out at different times of the day to hire workers. Some begin early in the morning, others at midday, and still others just an hour before the working day ends. At the end of the day, surprisingly, all receive the same wage.