Trigésimo Tercer Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario – 2026

Queridos hermanos y hermanas: el Papa Francisco designó el Trigésimo Tercer Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario como la Jornada Mundial de los Pobres. Este día nos invita a recordar a los pobres de todo el mundo, a reflexionar sobre las difíciles circunstancias en las que viven y, sobre todo, a considerar cómo cada uno de nosotros puede utilizar sus recursos, dones y talentos para responder a las necesidades de los miembros más vulnerables de nuestra sociedad.

Me gustaría comenzar esta reflexión con dos preguntas: ¿Estamos preparados para encontrarnos con Jesús? ¿Qué estamos haciendo con los talentos que Dios nos ha dado?

En la Primera Lectura de hoy, tomada del Libro de los Proverbios, escuchamos una hermosa descripción de una mujer virtuosa. A través de su comportamiento, su sabiduría y su actitud amorosa, demuestra que es más valiosa que las perlas o cualquier tesoro material. Sus valores fortalecen a su familia, enriquecen su hogar y contribuyen a la felicidad duradera de su matrimonio.

El Libro de los Proverbios nos recuerda que la belleza física y las apariencias externas no duran para siempre. Lo que verdaderamente importa es la belleza del corazón. Una persona que teme al Señor, vive de acuerdo con sus enseñanzas y ayuda a quienes están necesitados es verdaderamente digna de alabanza.

¿No es esto algo que todos necesitamos recordar? Dios no mide nuestras vidas por nuestra apariencia, nuestras posesiones o nuestro estatus social. Él mira nuestros corazones y el amor que ponemos en práctica.

En la Segunda Lectura, San Pablo les recuerda a los Tesalonicenses que el Día del Señor llegará inesperadamente y que deben estar siempre preparados. Sin embargo, los anima a no tener miedo de la venida del Señor, porque ellos no pertenecen a las tinieblas, sino a la luz. Por medio del Espíritu Santo, se han convertido en hijos de la luz y deben permanecer despiertos y firmes en su fe, preparados para recibir al Señor cuando Él venga.

En el Evangelio de hoy, tomado de San Mateo, Jesús comparte con sus discípulos la Parábola de los Talentos. Por medio de esta parábola, nos enseña varias lecciones importantes:

• Dios ha confiado a cada ser humano dones y talentos de acuerdo con su voluntad.

• Dios espera que cada uno de nosotros utilice esos dones responsablemente y los desarrolle según sus capacidades.

• Algunas personas permiten que el miedo y la inseguridad les impidan utilizar sus talentos. En lugar de arriesgarse y poner sus dones al servicio de los demás, esconden lo que han recibido.

• Otras personas tienen el valor de arriesgarse, trabajar arduamente y aprovechar al máximo todo lo que el Señor les ha confiado.

• Un día, cada uno de nosotros tendrá que presentarse ante el Señor y dar cuenta de cómo hemos utilizado los dones y talentos que Él nos ha dado.

A través de esta parábola, Jesús nos recuerda que todos y cada uno de nosotros hemos recibido dones y talentos de Dios. Sería contrario a su plan creer que existen personas a quienes Él no les ha dado nada.

Nuestros talentos pueden manifestarse de muchas maneras. Pueden ser nuestras habilidades personales, capacidades profesionales, conocimientos, tiempo, bienes materiales o recursos económicos. Cualquiera que sea lo que hayamos recibido, es un regalo que Dios nos ha confiado, y estamos llamados a utilizarlo con sabiduría y generosidad.

La pregunta no es cuánto hemos recibido en comparación con los demás. La verdadera pregunta es: ¿Qué estamos haciendo con lo que Dios nos ha confiado?

¿Estamos utilizando nuestros dones para fortalecer a nuestras familias y comunidades? ¿Estamos utilizando nuestros recursos para ayudar a quienes tienen menos? ¿Estamos haciendo una diferencia en la vida de los demás?

Y volviendo a nuestra primera pregunta: ¿Estamos preparados para encontrarnos con Jesús?

El Evangelio nos recuerda que un día el Señor regresará y que cada uno de nosotros tendrá que dar cuenta de su vida. Él no nos preguntará simplemente cuánto dinero acumulamos, cuánto éxito alcanzamos o cuántas posesiones adquirimos. Nos preguntará qué hicimos con los dones que nos confió.

¿Amamos? ¿Perdonamos? ¿Compartimos? ¿Nos preocupamos por quienes están necesitados, especialmente por los pobres? ¿Utilizamos nuestra vida para hacer de este mundo un lugar mejor?

Y cuando el Señor venga a nuestro encuentro, que nos encuentre fieles, generosos y preparados para dar cuenta de los dones que nos ha confiado. Amén.

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Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – 2026

Dear brothers and sisters, Pope Francis designated the Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time as the World Day of the Poor. This day invites us to remember the poor throughout the world, to reflect on the difficult circumstances in which they live, and, above all, to consider how each one of us can use our resources, gifts, and talents to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable members of our society.

I would like to begin this reflection with two questions: Are you ready to meet Jesus? What are you doing with the talents God has given you?

In today's First Reading from the Book of Proverbs, we hear a beautiful description of a virtuous wife. Through her conduct, wisdom, and loving attitude, she proves to be more precious than pearls or any material treasure. Her values strengthen her family, enrich her home, and contribute to the lasting happiness of her marriage.

The Book of Proverbs reminds us that physical beauty and external appearances do not last forever. What truly matters is the beauty of the heart. A person who fears the Lord, lives according to His teachings, and reaches out to those in need is truly worthy of praise.

Isn't this something we all need to remember? God does not measure our lives by our appearance, our possessions, or our social status. He looks at our hearts and at the love we put into action.

In the Second Reading, St. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that the Day of the Lord will come unexpectedly and that they must always be prepared. However, he encourages them not to be afraid of the Lord's coming because they do not belong to darkness but to the light. Through the Holy Spirit, they have become children of the light and must remain awake and steadfast in their faith, ready to welcome the Lord whenever He comes.

In today's Gospel from Matthew, Jesus shares with His disciples the Parable of the Talents. Through this parable, He teaches us several important lessons:

• God has entrusted every human being with gifts and talents according to His will.

• God expects each of us to use those gifts responsibly and to develop them according to our abilities.

• Some people allow fear and insecurity to prevent them from using their talents. Instead of taking a risk and putting their gifts to work, they hide what they have received.

• Others are courageous enough to take risks, work hard, and make the most of everything the Lord has entrusted to them.

• One day, each of us will have to stand before the Lord and give an account of how we have used the gifts and talents He has given us.

Through this parable, Jesus reminds us that every one of us has received gifts and talents from God. It would be contrary to His plan to believe that there are people to whom He has given nothing.

Our talents can take many forms. They may be our personal abilities, professional skills, knowledge, time, material possessions, or financial resources. Whatever we have received, it is a gift entrusted to us by God, and we are called to use it wisely and generously.

The question is not how much we have received compared with others. The real question is: What are we doing with what God has entrusted to us?

Are we using our gifts to build up our families and communities? Are we using our resources to help those who are less fortunate? Are we making a difference in the lives of others?

And going back to our first question: Are we ready to meet Jesus? The Gospel reminds us that one day the Lord will return, and each of us will have to give an account of our lives. He will not simply ask how much money we accumulated, how successful we became, or how many possessions we acquired. He will ask what we did with the gifts He entrusted to us. Did we love? Did we forgive? Did we share? Did we care for those in need especially for the poor? Did we use our lives to make this world a better place?

And when the Lord comes to meet us, may He find us faithful, generous, and ready to give an account of the gifts He has entrusted to us. Amen.

33rd Sunday A

My friends, we’re approaching the end of our Church’s Liturgical Year.  Next week will be the last Sunday of the year.  And, in two weeks we’ll begin a New Year.  We can tell that we’re near the end of our Liturgical Year because our Readings over the past several weeks, especially the Gospels, are about being vigilant, being prepared for the end time.

This year, our gospels have been primarily from Matthew's gospel.  Right now we’re in chapter 25, which is the last chapter prior to Jesus' arrest, trial, execution, and death.  Jesus knew His death was coming soon, so He told this parable to prepare His disciples for His departure and in effect, pose the question: 

What are you going to be doing and how will you serve me and your brothers and sisters until I return?

A little background information regarding this parable:  We are told that the master called in his servants and entrusted them with his possessions, his Talents.  A Talent was a measure of weight of  precious metal coinage.  It could be copper, silver, or gold.

One talent weighed 80 pounds or 1,280 ounces and was worth the equivalent to 15 years of wages. 

Using today's standard measure of one ounce for gold, the master entrusted his servants with today's equivalent of :

• $25 Million to the man given 5 talents.

• $10 Million to the man given 2 talents.

• $5 Million to the man given 1 talent.

That's a lot of trust given to the servants by their master. 

My friends, Jesus uses this parable as a way to teach us how much He trusts us with the care of His Kingdom. 

In this parable, there are several lessons:

It tells us that God gives people different gifts.  In the parable, one man received five talents, another two talents,  and another one talent.  Using the word “talent” as a metaphor for “gift” or “skill,” we can understand the meaning of today’s Gospel.

It doesn't matter what talent or how many talents a person has.  It matters how a person uses their talent or skill.  God never demands that a person use talents which he or she does not possess.

But – God does demand that everyone should use the talents they do possess.  People are not equal in talents but people can be equal in effort. 

Now, we can't sit back and say: "I don't have any talent to give."  That simply is not true.  Everyone, to some extent, has talent.  Also, the more a talent is used, the greater it becomes, just like in our parable:  Five talents growing to ten.  Two talents growing to four.

One of the greatest cooks I've ever known was my father-in-law.  But, if you were to ask him in the beginning of his cooking career if he had a talent for cooking, he would have said, "Nope !"

Well, he wasn't too far off in his answer.  When my mother-in-law became so ill that she literally could no longer cook, it became necessary for my father-in-law to do the cooking.  At that point in time, his only cooking talent was to light the burner on the stovetop or turn the oven on.

But my mother-in-law guided him, telling him how to cook very simple meals, allowing him to take  baby steps in cooking.  It wasn't long before he became a great cook.  He used his talent and soon there was 2 talents, then 5, then ten.  I used to love walking into their house.  It always smelled so wonderful with one of his meals.

In addition to his wonderful cooking, he took loving care of his wife for 13 years after he began cooking.  He not only used his talent, his talent increased tremendously over the years.  I truly believe he gave all that he possibly could have given.

My friends, another thing this parable teaches us is that the reward for work well done – is still more work that needs to be done.  The two servants who had done well were not told they could sit back and rest because they did a good job.  They were given greater responsibilities by their master.  The work in God's Kingdom is never done.

Our parish community is always in need of Liturgical Ministers:  Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers, Sacristans, Music Ministers, Hospitality Ministers.  Our parish also needs Communion to the Sick Eucharistic Ministers in the hospital, nursing homes, and private homes.

Additionally, there a need to serve God’s Kingdom outside of the realm of Church:  Caring for the poor, the vulnerable, welcoming the stranger.  Now, there are some folks who are so busy with home and work that they literally have no time to give to Church but they are capable of donating money.  That is a ministry as well.  Our parish programs of feeding the poor and educating the youth and adults are costly. 

In today’s parable, Jesus is pretty stern with the servant who did nothing.  He didn't lose the talent.  He just buried it and did not use it for his master's good.  Our Gospel teaches us that there’s a big difference between being a follower of Christ and a Disciple of Christ. 

As Disciples, we are called to build the Kingdom of God.  We are called to use our talents, big or small, for the Kingdom because the work of the Kingdom of God is never done.