Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial
of Saint Monica (27th August, 2016) on the Gospel and the Memorial
1Cor 1:26-31;
Ps 32:12-13.18-21. (R. cf. v. 12);
Matt 25:14-30.
Saint Monica was born on 331 AD in Thagaste and was
married to a pagan, Patricius at a very tender age. Her children were Saint
Augustine (August 28), Navigius, and Perpetua. She endured her husband’s and
her mother’s-in-law bad temper. Although
Patricius criticized her for her charity and piety, but he always respected
her. She later won him and her mother-in-law to Christianity. She stopped
Augustine from eating and sleeping in her house when he accepted the Manichean
heresy and was living immoral life. Monica readmitted him after a vision that
assured her that Augustine would return to the faith. She stayed too close to Augustine
with prayers and fasting than he wanted. Augustine tricked her and left for Rome.
On her arrival, she learnt that he had left for Milan. She did not give-up. In
Milan, Augustine came under the influence of the bishop, Saint Ambrose, who
also became Monica’s spiritual director. Saint Ambrose baptized Augustine and
several of his friends at Easter, 387. Soon after, they left for Africa. She
became ill and suffered severely for nine days and died on 387 AD in Ostia
Antica. She is the patron Saint of Alcoholics, Married women, and Mothers.
Topic: Put your talent/s into use.
Jesus also compared the kingdom of heaven to a man who before
going on a journey entrusted his property to his slaves. He gave five talents
to one, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his ability.
The one who received five and the other who received two traded with theirs
immediately and doubled them. On the contrary, the slave who received one
talent dug a hole and hid it. On the master’s return, the slave who received
five talents and the one who received two received the same verdict, “Well
done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I
will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” However,
when the one who received one talent came forward, he reported,
Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you
did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and
I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.
The one talent was taken away and given to the one with ten. And
the slave was thrown into the outer darkness, a place of weeping and gnashing
of teeth.
Their master expected each to yield fruits according to the
talents given, cf. Lk 12:48. Hence
the one who doubled five talents and the other who doubled two received the
same reward.
In the same vein, each of us is required to produce fruits
according to the number of talent/s given. The words of Saint Paul were fulfilled
in the life of Saint Monica, “God is faithful, and he will not let you be
tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way
of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1Cor 10:13). We ought to imitate Saint Monica who did not allow
evil to overcome her, she overcame evil with good, cf. Rom 12:21.
Bible Reading: Lk 12:41-48.
Thought for today: Use your talent/s.
Let us pray: Lord, give us the grace to make the
best use of all the talents you have given us – Amen.
Saint Monica – Pray for us.
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In today’s gospel, the people were amazed at Jesus’ teaching
at Capernaum on a Sabbath because He spoke with authority. He also commanded the
demon in a demoniac and it came out of him without harming him. In amazement, the
people kept saying, “What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and
power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!”
According to the Synoptic Gospels, Herod, who was
tetrarch, or sub-king, of Galilee under the Roman Empire, had imprisoned John
the Baptist because he reproved Herod for divorcing his wife (Phasaelis) and
unlawfully taking Herodias, the wife of his brother Herod Philip I as wife, cf.
Matt 14:3-4; Mk 6:17-18; Lk 9:7-9.
On Herod's birthday, Herodias's daughter danced before Herod and his guests.
Her dancing pleased Herod so much that in his drunkenness he promised to give
her anything she desired, up to half of his kingdom. Through the instigation of
her mother, she preferred the head of John the Baptist on a dish. Though Herod
was deeply grieved but her request prevailed because of Herod’s oaths and for
his guests, cf. Mk 6: 26-28.[1]
“Nothing is far from God.”