The Feast of Ss John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues and Companions SJ | Wednesday 19 October 2022

Today is Wednesday the 19th of October, the feast of Ss John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues and companions SJ, in the twenty ninth week of Ordinary time.



Tenebrae, directed by Nigel Short, sing the Canticle of Simeon, from Rachmaninov’s Vespers: “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples”.

As I listen, can I become aware that I am in God’s presence now, that I too am God’s servant, called by God, commissioned by God, entrusted to do God’s work?

Nyne otpushchayeshi raba Tvoego, Vladyko, po glagolu Tvoyemu s mirom:
yako videsta ochi moi spaseniye Tvoye, ezhe esi ugotoval pred litsem vsekh lyudei,
svet vo otkrovenie yazykov, i slavu lyudei Tvoikh Izrailya.


Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy Word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people.
A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people, Israel.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.


Luke 12: 42-48

And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and if he begins to beat the other servants, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. That servant who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating.
But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

Today we hear about servants and masters. This is tough talk, about being held accountable for our choices and actions. What does it feel like to hear Jesus challenging me in this way?

What would I say about myself? Have I been a 'faithful and prudent manager' or have there been chances God has given me that I've ignored?

As I listen to the reading again, I notice how I feel about these hard words. Does it make me uncomfortable? Self-righteous? A little defensive, perhaps?

If you're one of those who've been given much, is much being required of you? What do you want to say to God about this?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.