20251119 ABSOLUTE LOYALTY IS GIVEN TO ONE WHOM WE KNOW WELL AND LOVE
19 November 2025, Wednesday, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time
First reading |
2 Maccabees 7:1,20-31 |
The creator of the world will give you back both breath and life
There were seven brothers who were arrested with their mother. The king tried to force them to taste pig’s flesh, which the Law forbids, by torturing them with whips and scourges. But the mother was especially admirable and worthy of honourable remembrance, for she watched the death of seven sons in the course of a single day, and endured it resolutely because of her hopes in the Lord. Indeed she encouraged each of them in the language of their ancestors; filled with noble conviction, she reinforced her womanly argument with manly courage, saying to them, ‘I do not know how you appeared in my womb; it was not I who endowed you with breath and life, I had not the shaping of your every part. It is the creator of the world, ordaining the process of man’s birth and presiding over the origin of all things, who in his mercy will most surely give you back both breath and life, seeing that you now despise your own existence for the sake of his laws.’
Antiochus thought he was being ridiculed, suspecting insult in the tone of her voice; and as the youngest was still alive he appealed to him not with mere words but with promises on oath to make him both rich and happy if he would abandon the traditions of his ancestors; he would make him his Friend and entrust him with public office. The young man took no notice at all, and so the king then appealed to the mother, urging her to advise the youth to save his life. After a great deal of urging on his part she agreed to try persuasion on her son. Bending over him, she fooled the cruel tyrant with these words, uttered in the language of their ancestors, ‘My son, have pity on me; I carried you nine months in my womb and suckled you three years, fed you and reared you to the age you are now (and cherished you). I implore you, my child, observe heaven and earth, consider all that is in them, and acknowledge that God made them out of what did not exist, and that mankind comes into being in the same way. Do not fear this executioner, but prove yourself worthy of your brothers, and make death welcome, so that in the day of mercy I may receive you back in your brothers’ company.’
She had scarcely ended when the young man said, ‘What are you all waiting for? I will not comply with the king’s ordinance; I obey the ordinance of the Law given to our ancestors through Moses. As for you, sir, who have contrived every kind of evil against the Hebrews, you will certainly not escape the hands of God.’
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 16(17):1,5-6,8,15 |
I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory, O Lord.
Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
no deceit is on my lips.
I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory, O Lord.
I kept my feet firmly in your paths;
there was no faltering in my steps.
I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God.
Turn your ear to me; hear my words.
I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory, O Lord.
Guard me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings
As for me, in my justice I shall see your face
and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory.
I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory, O Lord.
Gospel Acclamation | 1Jn2:5 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Whenever anyone obeys what Christ has said,
God’s love comes to perfection in him.
Alleluia!
Or: | cf.Jn15:16 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
I chose you from the world
to go out and bear fruit,
fruit that will last,
says the Lord.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 19:11-28 |
The parable of the talents
While the people were listening, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they imagined that the kingdom of God was going to show itself then and there. Accordingly he said, ‘A man of noble birth went to a distant country to be appointed king and afterwards return. He summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds. “Do business with these” he told them “until I get back.” But his compatriots detested him and sent a delegation to follow him with this message, “We do not want this man to be our king.”
‘Now on his return, having received his appointment as king, he sent for those servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made. The first came in and said, “Sir, your one pound has brought in ten.” “Well done, my good servant!” he replied “Since you have proved yourself faithful in a very small thing, you shall have the government of ten cities.” Then came the second and said, “Sir, your one pound has made five.” To this one also he said, “And you shall be in charge of five cities.” Next came the other and said, “Sir, here is your pound. I put it away safely in a piece of linen because I was afraid of you; for you are an exacting man: you pick up what you have not put down and reap what you have not sown.” “You wicked servant!” he said “Out of your own mouth I condemn you. So you knew I was an exacting man, picking up what I have not put down and reaping what I have not sown? Then why did you not put my money in the bank? On my return I could have drawn it out with interest.” And he said to those standing by, “Take the pound from him and give it to the man who has ten pounds.” And they said to him, “But, sir, he has ten pounds…”. “I tell you, to everyone who has will be given more; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
‘“But as for my enemies who did not want me for their king, bring them here and execute them in my presence.”’
When he had said this he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
ABSOLUTE LOYALTY IS GIVEN TO ONE WHOM WE KNOW WELL AND LOVE
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [2 MC 7:1. 20-31; PS 17:1,5-6,8,15; LK 19:11-28]
How do we command loyalty from our loved ones and those whom we serve? One way is through force and power. This was the approach of King Antiochus in today’s first reading. He sought to unify the people by compelling everyone to profess a common faith and adopt the same customs. Consequently, he tried to force the Jews to comply with pagan practices, including the worship of foreign gods. He decreed that all Jews must participate in pagan rituals and outlawed Sabbath observances, festivals, circumcision, and practices of ritual purity, even forcing them to eat pork. Yet this method did not always work because some Jews resisted, although many admittedly gave in to pressure. What made some remain steadfast while others succumbed to threats and punishment?
In the first reading, we witness the exemplary faith of the mother and her sons, who resisted the king’s torture and death threats.Indeed, the account describes how the mother even ridiculed Antiochus, urging her sons to defy him by remaining strong and firm in their faith, even in the face of torture and death. She reminded them that it was not she who gave them life but “the creator of the world, ordaining the process of man’s birth and presiding over the origin of all things, who in his mercy will most surely give you back both breath and life, seeing that you now despise your own existence for the sake of his laws.” We wonder what kind of heart this mother had, finding the strength to witness each of her sons being tortured and killed. She remained resolute and told her youngest son, “Do not fear this executioner, but prove yourself worthy of your brothers, and make death welcome, so that in the day of mercy I may receive you back in your brothers’ company.” This was only possible because of her deep love and faith in God, which in turn inspired her sons. Loyalty, therefore, is born of faith and love, which give hope for the fullness of life.
The same message is found in today’s Gospel — the Parable of the Talents. It is fundamentally a parable about loyalty. St Luke gives the context: Jesus was nearing Jerusalem to enter into His passion, death, and glory, and the people assumed that “the kingdom of God was going to show itself then and there.” So Jesus told them a parable about loyalty to a king. Historically, the parable alludes to King Herod when it says, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to be appointed king and afterwards returned. But his compatriots detested him and sent a delegation to say, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.'” Jesus, too, came from heaven to establish His kingship, but He was rejected by His own people.
How is loyalty expressed in the parable? The parable has two main themes: the authority of Jesus and our accountability to Him. It addresses Israel’s rejection of Jesus and the responsibility of all whom He calls. Since the period of Jesus’ absence applies to us as well, as we await His second coming after His resurrection and ascension, we too will face judgment before Christ’s throne. Those who are faithful will be rewarded, and those who are unfaithful will face consequences. This is especially pertinent for those in ministry.
Jesus then told the story of a king giving ten servants one pound each to do business with. The numbers themselves are symbolic. What matters is how the master rewarded the servants upon his return. They were expected to invest the money so that it would grow. However, not all took the risk, initiative, or effort to make it increase. Those who fail to appreciate God’s gifts often leave them unused or misuse them. The first servant was outstanding, producing ten pounds from the one he received. The second produced five and was also diligent. The master commended their trustworthiness and rewarded them with greater responsibility: ten cities for the first and five for the second. They were praised because they lived up to the king’s trust. He did not dictate how they must use the money — He entrusted them with the freedom to act. This demonstrates God’s trust in giving each of us our unique gifts.
But the crux of the story lies with the third servant. This servant viewed his master as harsh and unscrupulous, reaping that which he did not sow. He perceived him as unreasonable and self-serving, exacting much money from those who serve him. Consequently, his attitude was contrary to trust and faith. If he lacked loyalty, it was because he held a distorted image of the master. He said, “Sir, here is your pound. I put it away safely in a piece of linen because I was afraid of you; for you are an exacting man: you pick up what you have not put down and reap what you have not sown.” Though he served his master externally, he was not one with him. He had no loyalty to him.
This servant represents those who associate with Jesus — such as Judas, but are not truly allied with Him. Those who do not really know Jesus will not give their lives for Him, just like the servant who did not know his master well. Without trust and love, there is no confidence. Christians without a personal relationship with the Lord also behave this way. They play hide-and-seek — obeying only when they are seen or fear being judged but when they believe they are safe from His judgment because they think there is still plenty of time, they become careless and irresponsible with their gifts. Instead of diligently working for the Lord and investing their time, energy, and resources in the spread of His kingdom, they grow lazy and indifferent. When we are like this servant without a meaningful relationship with God, we are merely servants in name.
As a consequence, the master’s reaction was swift and firm. The wicked servant is judged by his own words. The master says, “So you knew I was an exacting man, picking up what I have not put down and reaping what I have not sown? Then why did you not put my money in the bank? On my return, I could have drawn it out with interest.” If the servant truly believed the master was harsh, he should have acted responsibly. Thus, there is irony in the master’s remarks: he measures the servant according to the servant’s own standards – standards the servant himself failed to meet. He was therefore hypocritical. Significantly, the master’s generosity toward the faithful servants shows him to be anything but a hard taskmaster. Trust begets trust, and clearly, the wicked servant never really knew his master and therefore judged him wrongly.
For us, this means that if our association with Jesus is merely superficial, we will lack trust and faith in Him. This is evident in how we use the gifts we have received. It is tragic that many Catholics are merely “associates” of our Lord but do not truly know Him. They may even be involved in the Christian community, joining church ministries, yet they never walk through the door of faith — a faith that responds to grace, enters into a real relationship with the Lord, and embraces a genuine commitment not only to Him but also to the Church. They will find themselves on the outside when judgment comes, for the Lord will say to them, even if they protest, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets,” “I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!” (Lk 13:26f). Mere connection with our Lord or with the Church community is not sufficient unless we are growing in discipleship. We are called to cultivate a real, personal relationship with the Lord by deepening our intimacy with Him in prayer, meditating on His Word, and celebrating His love in the Eucharist and the Sacraments. Otherwise, we remain Catholics in name only, not true disciples of the Lord. Only when we truly know Him can we trust in His goodness, mercy, and love. And the warning stands: “To everyone who has, more will be given; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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