Service and Survival

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to remain true to the values and teachings that guide our fullness of life in the service of love, hope, and charity.

At The Edge

The Reading from the Second Letter of Timothy is Solemn Charge to persevere to a Reward for Fidelity.

* [4:1–5] The gravity of the obligation incumbent on Timothy to preach the word can be gauged from the solemn adjuration: in the presence of God, and of Christ coming as universal judge, and by his appearance and his kingly power (2 Tm 4:1). Patience, courage, constancy, and endurance are required despite the opposition, hostility, indifference, and defection of many to whom the truth has been preached (2 Tm 4:2–5).

* [4:3] Insatiable curiosity: literally, “with itching ears.”

* [4:6] The apostle recognizes his death through martyrdom to be imminent. He regards it as an act of worship in which his blood will be poured out in sacrifice; cf. Ex 29:38–40; Phil 2:17.

* [4:7] At the close of his life Paul could testify to the accomplishment of what Christ himself foretold concerning him at the time of his conversion, “I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name” (Acts 9:16).

* [4:8] When the world is judged at the parousia, all who have eagerly looked for the Lord’s appearing and have sought to live according to his teachings will be rewarded. The crown is a reference to the laurel wreath placed on the heads of victorious athletes and conquerors in war; cf. 2 Tm 2:5; 1 Cor 9:25. (2 Timothy, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 71 is a lament of an old person who remains buoyant.

* [Psalm 71] A lament of an old person (Ps 71:9, 18) whose afflictions are interpreted by enemies as a divine judgment (Ps 71:11). The first part of the Psalm pleads for help (Ps 71:1–4) on the basis of a hope learned from a lifetime’s experience of God; the second part describes the menace (Ps 71:9–13) yet remains buoyant (Ps 71:14–16); the third develops the theme of hope and praise. (Psalms,CHAPTER 71 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus blesses The Poor Widow’s Contribution.

* [12:41–44] See note on Lk 21:1–4. (Mark, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)

* [21:1–4] The widow is another example of the poor ones in this gospel whose detachment from material possessions and dependence on God leads to their blessedness (Lk 6:20). Her simple offering provides a striking contrast to the pride and pretentiousness of the scribes denounced in the preceding section (Lk 20:45–47). The story is taken from Mk 12:41–44. (Luke, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB, n.d.)

Mirielle Mason asks “What does it truly mean to serve the Lord with a humble heart and soul? Today’s Gospel and first reading placed that question heavily on my heart. Do I seek validation for my time spent in service? Are my monetary contributions appropriately sized? If I truly take the time to be honest with myself, is my motivation pure? 

It can be scary to address those questions head on because human nature craves attention… Although, for each question we ask ourselves we have a decision to make. Sometimes, the vast number of decisions we are presented with as humans can feel paralyzing, but I think part of that fear comes from the unknown. We don’t know what may come of our choices, and we are nervous that it may hurt us. Modern Christians especially may feel like following Christ isolates them from society, but we have to remember that we are called to walk the narrow way. 2 Timothy urges us to remain confident and focused on our mission, emphasizing that it will be difficult. But there is also hope in the knowledge that we know what will come of choices of this nature. Every time we choose the path of our Lord, we become closer with Him on our journey to everlasting life.

Each day I am able to choose the Lord in a thousand tiny ways. I can decide to give of my time today, I can choose to show up for mass. How will you choose the Lord today? (Mason, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes Mercy and compassion are never worthless, by Leo the Great, 400-461 A.D.

"Although the spite of some people does not grow gentle with any kindness, nevertheless the works of mercy are not fruitless, and kindness never loses what is offered to the ungrateful. May no one, dearly beloved, make themselves strangers to good works. Let no one claim that his poverty scarcely sufficed for himself and could not help another. What is offered from a little is great, and in the scale of divine justice, the quantity of gifts is not measured but the steadfastness of souls. The 'widow' in the Gospel put two coins into the 'treasury,' and this surpassed the gifts of all the rich. No mercy is worthless before God. No compassion is fruitless. He has given different resources to human beings, but he does not ask different affections." (excerpt from SERMON 20.3.1.6) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation was not available at publication time.

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the reading from 2 Timothy is a continuation of an exhortation to hold faithful to the Gospel. This action against the Gospel occurs later in the 1st century and is one argument against the authorship of Paul of this letter. A libation, offered to the gods, is traditionally poured out on the ground. We must be willing to pay the price for our faith. Difficulties of Christian life may occur in gossip or on the highway.  St. Thérèse of Lisieux described a “martyrdom of pin pricks” originating in the annoying things of our daily lives. The leaders are accused, by Jesus, of being in it for the honour and their pride. The poor widow has given all she had, far more consequential than giving from excess. Friar Jude asks: “What are we capable of doing?” The best we can with what we have received.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Poet Alison Davis who finds blessings for those who are on the edges of who they are and what they think they know.

“A Blessing for Those at the Edge”

Maybe you walked here.
Maybe you ran here.
Maybe you followed a trail of stones, of feathers, of flowers,
of scents, of sky.
Maybe you went afoot with the Mystery & so how you got here
is also a mystery.
But here is where you are & here
is always its own kind of blessing & here
at the edge, blessings compound.

Bless those at the edge of the river
of their heart,
full of promise.

Bless those at the edge of the morning,
singing the bright face of day
into the blue.

Bless those at the edge of what they know,
watching the old certainties crumble.

Bless those at the edge of doom,
bearing it out, as the famous bard wrote,
with or without the draw of a happy ending.

Bless those at the edge of love
of self, of other, of world,
as the way forward grows more subtle, less sound.

Bless those at the edge of language,
whose tongues & tales & names
are more pledge than guarantee.

Bless those at the edge of believing
a life can be lived at the edge. (Rohr, n.d.)

We invoke the Spirit when we are confused about the Way in which we live a quality life that displays gratitude for our blessings in the joy of our service particularly “on the edge”.

References

Luke, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Retrieved June 6, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/lk/21?1#50021001 

Mark, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved June 6, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/12?38 

Mason, M. (2026, June 6). Daily Reflection June 6, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved June 6, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-june-6-2026 

Psalms,CHAPTER 71 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved June 6, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/71?8 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Beyond Binaries: Weekly Summary. Retrieved June 6, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/beyond-binaries-weekly-summary/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). This Poor Widow Has Put in More Than the Rest. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 6, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

2 Timothy, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 6, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2timothy/4?1 

Sharing Talents

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to assess the extent to which we use our God-given talents to nourish our environment with charity, patience, thanksgiving and humility.

Building Community

The Reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians celebrates Mutual Charity.

In Psalm 98 we are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world.

* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9). (Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus presents The Parable of the Talents.

* [25:14–30] Cf. Lk 19:12–27.

* [25:14] It will be as when…journey: literally, “For just as a man who was going on a journey.” Although the comparison is not completed, the sense is clear; the kingdom of heaven is like the situation here described. Faithful use of one’s gifts will lead to participation in the fullness of the kingdom, lazy inactivity to exclusion from it.

* [25:15] Talents: see note on Mt 18:24.

* [25:18] Buried his master’s money: see note on Mt 13:44.

* [25:20–23] Although the first two servants have received and doubled large sums, their faithful trading is regarded by the master as fidelity in small matters only, compared with the great responsibilities now to be given to them. The latter are unspecified. Share your master’s joy: probably the joy of the banquet of the kingdom; cf. Mt 8:11.

* [25:26–28] Wicked, lazy servant: this man’s inactivity is not negligible but seriously culpable. As punishment, he loses the gift he had received, that is now given to the first servant, whose possessions are already great.

* [25:29] See note on Mt 13:12 where there is a similar application of this maxim.

* [25:30] See note on Mt 8:11–12. (Matthew, CHAPTER 25 | USCCB, n.d.)

A Member of the Creighton University Community is led to some prayers of St. Teresa of Avila, while reflecting on today’s readings. St. Teresa wrote, “God has no hands but ours!”

 

A prayer of St. Teresa of Avila:

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things,
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

May you live a tranquil life!
May God bless the work of your hands. (Daily Reflection August 30, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “Eternal Joys”, by Gregory the Great (540-604 AD).

"All the good deeds of our present life, however many they may appear to be, are few in comparison with our eternal recompense. The faithful servant is put in charge of many things after overcoming all the troubles brought him by perishable things. He glories in the eternal joys of his heavenly dwelling. He is brought completely into the joy of his master when he is taken into his eternal home and joined to the company of angels. His inner joy at his gift is such that there is no longer any external perishable thing that can cause him sorrow." (excerpt from FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 9.2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 25:14-30 comments that Jesus’ lesson is clear: he wants us to be generous with whatever blessings he has given us. He wants us to keep our hearts open for the promptings of the Spirit so that we can give those blessings away.

So don’t bury your gifts; make sure they keep flowing out to other people! Even if you don’t think you have much to offer, you might be surprised by how “rich” you really are—and by all the opportunities you’ll find to share your gifts:

• A chance to encourage an anxious friend.

• A chance to forgive a harsh word.

• A chance to welcome an outsider.

• A chance to give an unexpected gift.

• A chance to share the good news.

• A chance to pray with a neighbor.

• And many, many more.

Never underestimate the effect of any act of love offered in Christ. Every drop of rain makes a river more powerful, just as every invested “talent” produces a high yield for the kingdom of God.

“Lord, may your blessings always flow through me!” (Meditation on Matthew 25:14-30, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Paul continues to exhort us to live in charity, tranquillity and work with our hands. This is contrary to those in Paul’s community who responded to the imminent coming of Jesus by not working. Conversion needs the witness of a good lifestyle. The “talent” in Matthew’s Gospel was a measure of precious metal, an incredible fortune. The one talent is buried in fear of punishment by the Master.  We have to use our gifts in trust to build up the community. Friar Jude reminds us that the conclusion that those with much will be richer and those with little will lose it is reference to our faith. 

Fr. Richard Rohr introduces University chaplain Lynn Cooper who offers suggestions for how we might develop the tools to engage in interfaith friendships. 

Inhabiting the ethic of active listening and practicing self-emptying, we bring mindfulness and intentionality to this work. With this foundation, we can be fully present with others, engaging genuine curiosity and beginner’s mind. Remember that this way of being in the world often leads to a reconfiguring of self. Being open to revelation and conversion requires humility—a sense of deep knowing that we are God’s and God’s work is ongoing.   (Rohr, 2025)

We reflect on the talents we have been entrusted to use to bring the blessings of our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader to the community in which we encourage people to live fully as children of God.

References

Daily Reflection August 30, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. (2025, August 30). Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved August 30, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-august-30-2025 

Matthew, CHAPTER 25 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 30, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/25?14 

Meditation on Matthew 25:14-30. (n.d.). Homepage. Retrieved August 30, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/08/30/1365572/ 

Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved August 30, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98?1 

Rohr, R. (2025, August 29). Can Christians Be Makers of Peace? — Center for Action and Contemplation. CAC.org. Retrieved August 30, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/can-christians-be-makers-of-peace/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Master Will Settle His Account with Them. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 30, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=aug30