Sunday Gospel: Thirty-Third Sunday, Ordinary time, Year A

This week’s Gospel is a very familiar parable and one that is often used with students and young people. It is generally used as an encouragement to make the most of the gifts and skills that the listeners possess. It is rarely, however, placed in its context as part of the full Chapter 25 lesson about the time of waiting and preparation for the coming of the Lord and the Christian life.

Again, the story is presented as a parable of the Kingdom – a glimpse into the right order of things in the realised Kingdom. A very wealthy master entrusts his considerable assets to his servants to manage in his absence. The three servants were allocated money, ‘each in proportion to his ability’. The emphasis of the parable is on what each servant did with the funds they were allotted. They were charged with managing the money in the place of their master; acting in their master’s place to further develop his wealth.

Like all of Jesus’ parables, this one has a sting in the tail. Although the third servant has done nothing illegal or corrupt, he is very harshly dealt with. His crime is laziness! He was given a great opportunity to demonstrate his abilities and yet he shied away and returned to his master exactly what had been entrusted to him, unimproved. The author of Matthew’s gospel uses this parable to shock the audience out of complacency. They cannot rely solely on the promised return of the Lord, they must continue to act on Jesus’ message and work to bring about the Kingdom in their own lives. Those who fail to act, leaving everything to the work of God, are as bad as the lazy servant who failed to grasp an extraordinary opportunity.

(Gospel Reflection by Greg Sunter)

Sacrament of First Eucharist

Thank you to all of the parents and students who joined our Zoom First Eucharist Formation session last night. I hope it was a nice way to conclude your preparation for the Sacrament.

A reminder that all parents can now select a time and day for their child to receive their First Eucharist, please use the link below:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/146FLEi9zYXFb7-ORSpIEnyadSPXt4E8kAxxmC_2ORTM/edit?usp=sharing

Due to restrictions, only 4 children will be able to register for each Mass. Please remember to also list the number of family members/guests that will be attending (Maximum of 10).

Eucharist 2020 Preparation Mass

At 12pm today, Fr John came to Garran to celebrate Mass with Stage 2 and their teachers as a way of recognising and celebrating the students in Year 4 who are preparing to receive their First Eucharist over the next couple of months. Our prayers are with all of these students and their families at this very special time.

Children’s Liturgy

A reminder that Children’s Liturgy runs on the 2^nd and 4^th Sunday of each month during term time.

Below is a timetable with the remaining dates for Term 4.

Sunday 22^nd  November

Sunday 13^th December

God bless,

Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator