Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Title

The Good Servant

Outline

In the past week or two I learned a good deal about Pope Benedict XVI

His first love among older theologians was St. Augustine, and in particular his Confessions

His first major academic work, finished on the eve of his ordination as a priest, was on the Church in the thought of St Augustine

And while other, to him contemporary, theologians shaped his thought and were guides to St Augustine, they were also part of the resourcement movement that pointed back to the sources including to St Augustine

In other words, St Augustine may have been long dead, but he was instrumental in forming a Pope 1500 years later.

That is the story of our text

We have all been gifted by God and are all held responsible

First, the gifts and possessions we have are not ours, but our Master’s - think on that if you are getting prideful

Second, our Master has gifted us differentially

While the text only talks in terms of amounts of money (a talant being a huge amount of money), we can think of many ways in which our Lord has gifted us.

The point is that we cannot say that the amount of our gifting or the shape of our gifting has to do with us; we cannot compare our gifts with others - it is all about his sovereign will

Third, the measure of our proper use of the gifts God has given us is faithfulness. Whether one was given much more or much less, the praise for faithfulness is the same: “my good and faithful servant” and “Come, share your master’s joy.”

Fourth, failure to properly use the gifts God has given leads to rejection - serious rejection, for the slave is tossed out

This failure in the parable is based on fear which both prevents one from taking appropriate risks and from even the virtually no risk investment, since the view of the master is distorted - the low risk will not be enough and the moderate risk might result in loss and torment. Your picture of God is critical.

Fifth, this is summed up in the principle, “For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

When do not accept what God gives us, we lose all, but when we accept and try to seek his will, it is not that we prosper, but that he prospers us according to his definition.

Sisters, there is a lot to think about here; you might want to meditate on these texts

St Augustine’s beginnings were not auspicious and while he stumbled here and there for years God was still giving him gifts that he would later use for God

You see a lot of this also in the developing Joseph Ratzinger

Even after his conversion St Augustine did not get to do what he wished - he unwillingly became priest and then bishop, for instance - but he acceded to what God had prepared for him and acted as faithfully as possible in that situation

You can see that too as Joseph Ratzinger moves towards the priesthood, professorship, and so on

The question at each stage for you and for me - God does not seem finished with me yet - is what has our good Lord given us? How can I use it faithfully for him? Beyond that we do not need to understand and we should not compare, leaving the commendation at the end up to him

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 8-28-2021: Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

FIRST READING

1 Thessalonians 4:9–11

9 On the subject of mutual charity you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. 10 Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Nevertheless we urge you, brothers, to progress even more, 11 and to aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your [own] hands, as we instructed you,

Catholic Daily Readings 8-28-2021: Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

RESPONSE

Psalm 98:9

9 Before the LORD who comes,

who comes to govern the earth,

To govern the world with justice

and the peoples with fairness.

PSALM

Psalm 98:1, 7–9

1 A psalm.

Sing a new song to the LORD,

for he has done marvelous deeds.

His right hand and holy arm

have won the victory.

7 Let the sea and what fills it resound,

the world and those who dwell there.

8 Let the rivers clap their hands,

the mountains shout with them for joy,

9 Before the LORD who comes,

who comes to govern the earth,

To govern the world with justice

and the peoples with fairness.

Catholic Daily Readings 8-28-2021: Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 13:34

34 I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.

GOSPEL

Matthew 25:14–30

14 “It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately 16 the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. 17 Likewise, the one who received two made another two. 18 But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ 22 [Then] the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; 25 so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ 26 His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? 28 Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. 29  For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 8-28-2021: Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 | MEMORIAL

SAINT AUGUSTINE, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

YEARS 1 & 2 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

From Saturday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading 1 Thessalonians 4:9–11

Response Psalm 98:9

Psalm Psalm 98:1, 7–9

Gospel Acclamation John 13:34

Gospel Matthew 25:14–30

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