Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional and Bible Study – 21st Week in Ordinary time – Saturday – Matthew 25:14-30

Having exhorted men to be watchful and prepared for His coming, Christ continues His teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven in The Parable of the Talents by revealing what He expects from from His disciples. Jesus Christ (the master) has entrusted the Gospel (wealth/talents) to His disciples (servants) and expects men to lead others to the Kingdom (return on investment). Christ (the master) gives each man (servant) gifts (talents), each receiving varying (talents of 5, 3, 1) and substantial gifts (a talent is equal to several million in today’s dollars).

Each man (servant) will be called before Christ (the master) to account at the Judgment (master comes to settle accounts). Men (servants) who deliver outstanding results (100% return on talents!) are enthusiastically acknowledged (“Well done”) and rewarded (“enter your Master’s joy”) by Christ (the master) and given more responsibility (“will set you over much”).

Men who fail to offer Christ a return (the servant who buries 1 talent) because of fear of responsibility, stupidity (did not put the talent in the bank) or laziness (slothful) will be harshly rebuked (“wicked”), stripped of responsibility (talent taken away) and cast into Hell(“outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth”).

Awed by Jesus Christ – Son of God, Christ offers insights into the mind of God and the future event of Judgment. Divine King, Christ has high expectations for every man to bear fruits with the gifts given and He rewards and punishes men based on their results. Divine Judge, Christ judges men and that some will be rewarded with eternal joy and others with eternal despair.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) Many men live as if Catholicism is a low-expectation faith. Reflect on how Christ carefully constructs of this parable to convey His disdain for poor results, His high expectations for men’s fruitfulness and the rewards and punishments He will give in the Judgment.

2) Christ has given every man talents: the gift of life, abilities (functional skills, spiritual gifts, etc.) and resources (financial, material gifts, etc.) Reflect upon and make a list of the gifts with which Christ has blessed you.

3) In this parable, Christ reveals that Catholic men are choosing their eternal destiny every day by how they use their talents. Pray for Christ to reveal how He wants to use your talents to build the Kingdom and commit to take action.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Joyful Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Blessed Virgin Mary

Virtue of the Day – Hope

Corporal Work of Mercy – To bury the dead

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To pray for the living and the dead