First Reading: Revelation 4:1-11
After these things I looked, and behold a door was opened in heaven, and the first voice which I heard, as it were of a trumpet speaking with me, said: Come up here, and I will show you the things which must be done hereafter.
And immediately I was in the spirit, and behold there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne one sitting. And He who sat was like jasper and sardine stone to look upon, and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon.
And round about the throne were twenty-four seats, and upon the seats twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and on their heads were crowns of gold. And from the throne proceeded lightnings and voices and thunders, and there were seven lamps burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
And before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass like crystal, and in the midst of the throne and round about the throne were four living creatures, full of eyes before and behind.
And the first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature like a calf, and the third living creature having as it were the face of a man, and the fourth living creature was like an eagle flying. And the four living creatures had each of them six wings, and round about and within they are full of eyes. And they rested not day and night saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.
And when those living creatures gave glory and honor and blessing to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fell down before Him who sits on the throne, and adored Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne saying: You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and for your will they were and have been created.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 150:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Alleluia: John 15:16
Gospel: Luke 19:11-28
As they were hearing these things, He added and spoke a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately be manifested.
He said therefore: A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten pounds and said to them: Trade till I come.
But his citizens hated him, and they sent an embassy after him saying: We will not have this man to reign over us.
And it happened that he returned, having received the kingdom, and he commanded his servants to be called to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
And the first came saying: Lord, your pound has gained ten pounds. And he said to him: Well done, good servant, because you have been faithful in a little, you shall have power over ten cities. And the second came saying: Lord, your pound has gained five pounds. And he said to him: Be also over five cities.
And another came saying: Lord, behold here is your pound which I have kept laid up in a napkin, for I feared you because you are an austere man, you take up what you did not lay down and you reap that which you did not sow.
He says to him: Out of your own mouth I judge you, wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man taking up what I laid not down and reaping that which I did not sow, and why then did you not give my money into the bank that at my coming I might have exacted it with interest?
And he said to those who stood by: Take the pound away from him and give it to him who has ten pounds. And they said to him: Lord, he has ten pounds. But I say to you that to everyone who has shall be given and he shall abound, and from him who has not, even what he has shall be taken from him. But as for those enemies of mine who would not have me reign over them, bring them here and kill them before me. And having said these things, He went before going up to Jerusalem.
Reflection
Heaven is a liturgy. John sees a door open, a throne, elders with golden crowns, and four living creatures full of eyes who rest not day and night saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. When they give glory, the elders fall down and cast their crowns before the throne saying: You are worthy, O Lord, for you created all things.
That vision gives meaning to the parable. A nobleman going to receive a kingdom gives ten servants ten pounds: Trade till I come. Two put it to work - one gains ten, another five - and they are placed over ten cities and five cities. The third wraps his pound in a napkin out of fear.
What we have is never ours alone. It comes from the King. Faithfulness is not about equal results but about not hiding the gift. Today, use what is in your hands - time, ability, love - so it bears fruit that will last, and one day you can lay your crown before Him who is worthy.
Prayer
Holy Lord, you are worthy of all glory and honor. All I have comes from your hand. Keep me from burying your gifts out of fear or self-protection. Give me wisdom to see what you have entrusted to me and courage to put it to work in love. Teach me to serve faithfully in small things, so my life may bear lasting fruit for your kingdom. Amen.
Readings are taken from the Douay-Rheims Bible, rendered in modern English for easy reading.
