Gifted and Anointed for Service

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate our blessings and our surrender to the call to serve others with our talents and skills.

Healing for Life

The Reading from the Prophet Amos presents his strong reaction to Amaziah’s attempt to classify him as a “prophet-for-hire”.

* [7:14] I am not a prophet: Amos reacts strongly to Amaziah’s attempt to classify him as a “prophet-for-hire” who “earns [his] bread” by giving oracles in exchange for payment (cf. 1 Sm 9:3–10; Mi 3:5). To disassociate himself from this kind of “professional” prophet, Amos rejects outright the title of nabi’ (“prophet”). By profession he is a herdsman/sheepbreeder and a dresser of sycamore trees, but God’s call has commissioned him to prophesy to Israel. (Amos, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 19 declares the creator’s wisdom is available to human beings in the law.

* [Psalm 19] The heavenly elements of the world, now beautifully arranged, bespeak the power and wisdom of their creator (Ps 19:2–7). The creator’s wisdom is available to human beings in the law (Ps 19:8–11), toward which the psalmist prays to be open (Ps 19:12–14). The themes of light and speech unify the poem. (Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus presents the Healing of a Paralytic.

* [9:1] His own town: Capernaum; see Mt 4:13.

* [9:3] Scribes: see note on Mk 2:6. Matthew omits the reason given in the Marcan story for the charge of blasphemy: “Who but God alone can forgive sins?” (Mk 2:7).

* [9:6] It is not clear whether But that you may know…to forgive sins is intended to be a continuation of the words of Jesus or a parenthetical comment of the evangelist to those who would hear or read this gospel. In any case, Matthew here follows the Marcan text.

* [9:8] Who had given such authority to human beings: a significant difference from Mk 2:12 (“They…glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this’”). Matthew’s extension to human beings of the authority to forgive sins points to the belief that such authority was being claimed by Matthew’s church. (Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)

Eileen Wirth comments on a visit to a brilliant friend suffering from severe dementia. She delights in simple things like the flowers in her garden and the tang of my homemade lemon bars. As we slow down to her pace, we absorb her sense of wonder at things like a smiling child. She heals all of us in a way.

Still meditating on today’s gospel, I left Connie’s house determined to stop missing the miracles I’ve been too busy to notice, like the one I experienced that weekend at a Methodist church pantry program food distribution that St. John’s supports.   

To me the miracle wasn’t that our churches had collected and distributed food but that we volunteers were hit hard by Jesus’ admonitions to welcome the stranger and feed the hungry.  We even talked about this. The experience connected us with our refugee brothers and sisters whom we don’t often encounter in daily life and brought the gospel to life. 

 

Heading back to my comfortable home, I thought about how we all need healing whether we are suffering physically like the paralytic or spiritually like the authorities. We need to let the small miracles of goodness that we experience in daily life transform us. So I’m going to try to notice and live the healing miracles happening all around me. (Wirth, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes “Healing of soul and body,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).

"Now in the narrative of the paralytic a number of people are brought forward for healing. Jesus' words of healing are worthy of reflection. The paralytic is not told, 'Be healed.' He is not told, 'Rise and walk.' But he is told, 'Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven you.' The paralytic is a descendant of the original man, Adam. In one person, Christ, all the sins of Adam are forgiven. In this case the person to be healed is brought forward by ministering angels. In this case, too, he is called a son, because he is God's first work. The sins of his soul are forgiven him, and pardon of the first transgression is granted. We do not believe the paralytic committed any sin [that resulted in his illness], especially since the Lord said elsewhere that blindness from birth had not been contracted from someone's sin or that of his parents" [John 9:1-3]. (excerpt from commentary ON MATTHEW 8.5) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Amos 7:10-17 comments that no one grows in holiness if they are surrounded by people who only affirm them. We all need people in our lives who are willing to help us see our blind spots and challenge us when necessary.

The better response is to examine your heart to see if there is any truth to what you’ve heard. Ask the Lord for the grace to correct any area in your life where you may be falling short of his will. And then trust that he will show you the way forward. Remember: God never convicts us of sin without also giving us a sense of hope and a willingness to make amends. If you follow this conviction, repent of any sin you see, and decide to make a change, he will honor your humility and sincerity of heart.

“Jesus, help me to be open to those who will speak a truth that can set me free!” (Meditation on Amos 7:10-17, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Amos actually came from Judah but preached in the northern kingdom with a region with unstable leaders who could be overthrown by words from a prophet. When Amos is told to be quiet, he declares himself not a prophet and not a member of the community of prophets. What is he saying as a herdsman and dresser of sycamore trees he would split the fruit as a poor man. When called by the Lord, Amos curses the priest for attempting to keep him from speaking.  Amos' language is that of one who speaks like a farmer. In the Gospel of Matthew, when Jesus heals a Paralytic, the first words out of Jesus’ mouth are that the sins of the Paralytic are forgiven, as Jesus heals the greater hurt first. The Pharisees are scandalized because forgiving sins is the exclusive prerogative of GOD. Friar Jude comments that Jesus heals and the people are struck with awe which is the proper response of those willing to see and anger to those who refuse to see what He is doing.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, writes about the transformative power of accepting our own belovedness. The lives of saints and mystics never point to themselves, but always and forever beyond themselves to the One who chooses them, uses them, and loves them. They become models for us. [1]

To allow ourselves to be God’s beloved is to be God’s beloved. To allow ourselves to be chosen is to be chosen. To allow ourselves to be blessed is to be blessed. It is so hard to accept being accepted, especially from God. It takes a certain kind of humility to surrender to it, and even more to persist in believing it. Any persons used by God know this to be true: God chooses and then uses whom God chooses, and their usability comes from their willingness to allow themselves to be chosen in the first place. What a paradox!  

God’s love is constant and irrevocable; our part is to be open to it and let it transform us. There is absolutely nothing we can do to make God love us more than God already does, and there is absolutely nothing we can do to make God love us less. We are stuck with it! The only difference is between those who allow it and those who don’t. They are both equally and objectively the beloved, but one just enjoys it and draws ever-new life from that realization. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the Spirit to alert us to the gifts with which we are blessed and inspire us to join Jesus and apply our time and talent to work producing fruit in the vineyard of the Lord.

References

Amos, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Retrieved July 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/amos/7?10 

Matthew, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved July 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9?1 

Meditation on Amos 7:10-17. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved July 2, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/07/01/1606059/ 

Psalms, PSALM 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 2, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/19? 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Loved to Love Others. Retrieved July 2, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/loved-to-love-others/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Take Heart - Your Sins Are Forgiven. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 2, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Wirth, E. (2026, July 2). Daily Reflection July 2, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved July 2, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-july-2-2026 

Transformation of Talents

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to seek the Way in which we are called to use our gifts to transform our environment to realize the Kingdom of God.

Talents Transformed for Life

The Reading from the First Book of Samuel introduces us to Elkanah and His Family at Shiloh.

* [1:6] Her rival: Hebrew sara, “rival wife, co-wife”; in the Talmud, a technical term for a second or co-wife.

* [1:7] In biblical narrative, the social status gained by producing children, especially males, often set woman against woman; cf. e.g., Gn 16, 21, 30. Peninnah’s provocations may be the arrogant boasting mentioned in 2:3. (1 Samuel, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 116 is a thanksgiving in which the psalmist responds with vows and Temple sacrifices.

* [Psalm 116] A thanksgiving in which the psalmist responds to divine rescue from mortal danger (Ps 116:3–4) and from near despair (Ps 116:10–11) with vows and Temple sacrifices (Ps 116:13–14, 17–19). The Greek and Latin versions divide the Psalm into two parts: Ps 116:1–9 and Ps 116:10–19, corresponding to its two major divisions. (Psalms, PSALM 116 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Mark presents The Call of the First Disciples.

* [1:14–15] After John had been arrested: in the plan of God, Jesus was not to proclaim the good news of salvation prior to the termination of the Baptist’s active mission. Galilee: in the Marcan account, scene of the major part of Jesus’ public ministry before his arrest and condemnation. The gospel of God: not only the good news from God but about God at work in Jesus Christ. This is the time of fulfillment: i.e., of God’s promises. The kingdom of God…Repent: see note on Mt 3:2.

* [1:16–20] These verses narrate the call of the first Disciples. See notes on Mt 4:18–22 and Mt 4:20. (Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Carol Zuegner comments that Jesus walks by men working in their boats in Galilee and calls out to Simon and Andrew, to James and John that it is time to repent and believe in the gospel. 

I think the call to repent and believe in the gospel is one we see and hear and feel every day. Every hour. Every minute. We make choices about how we are living our lives. And it’s the small choices, the small actions that establish the pattern of our lives, the way we follow the gospel. I want to repent and believe and live out the gospel. But I have to do the work in my thoughts and in my actions every day. Every hour. Every minute. God is waiting for me. I can stop what I’m doing and follow Jesus. I can do the right thing for myself, for my family and friends, for my community and the world. I can, as a broken and flawed human who is always loved by God, start over when I’ve made mistakes and fallen short. (Zuegner, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Common people on an uncommon mission,” by Eusebius of Caesarea (260/263-340 AD).

"Reflect on the nature and grandeur of the one Almighty God who could associate himself with the poor of the lowly fisherman's class. To use them to carry out God's mission baffles all rationality. For having conceived the intention, which no one ever before had done, of spreading his own commands and teachings to all nations, and of revealing himself as the teacher of the religion of the one Almighty God to all humanity, he thought good to use the most unsophisticated and common people as ministers of his own design. Maybe God just wanted to work in the most unlikely way. For how could inarticulate folk be made able to teach, even if they were appointed teachers to only one person, much less to a multitude? How should those who were themselves without education instruct the nations?... When he had thus called them as his followers, he breathed into them his divine power, and filled them with strength and courage. As God himself he spoke God's true word to them in his own way, enabling them to do great wonders, and made them pursuers of rational and thinking souls, by empowering them to come after him, saying: 'Come, follow me, and I will make you fish for people' (Mark 1:17, Matthew 4:19). With this empowerment God sent them forth to be workers and teachers of holiness to all the nations, declaring them heralds of his own teaching." (excerpt from PROOF OF THE GOSPEL 3.7) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 1:14-20 comments that little by little, Jesus invited his disciples to share in his work: to distribute the loaves and fishes and to go out two by two, healing the sick and casting out demons. By that time, they loved and trusted him enough to want to do whatever he told them. They had been with him long enough for him to capture their hearts. And they were looking more like him!

Your relationship with Jesus progresses in a similar way. He has invited you to come after him and to remain with him. Now, every hour you spend in prayer or with the Scriptures helps you to know him better. Every time you give of yourself for someone in need, his grace flows through you and you reflect his life more fully. As time goes by, your relationship with him—and your likeness to him—grows stronger and stronger.

So imitate those first disciples and come after Jesus. Spend time with him; take on his character. And watch how the Lord transforms you and works through you!

“Jesus, thank you for inviting me to follow you. Make me more like you today.” (Meditation on Mark 1:14-20, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that 1 Samuel sets up the story of Hannah and fact that the other wife has two children whereas she is barren and feels she has not received the blessing of the Lord. As the texts continues she will become the mother of Sampson. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is proclaiming the Kingdom of God when God's love and law is lived to the full. God calls us to use the talents and brokenness already in us. Friar Jude notes we are to surrender to be transformed with our talents to be used for the Kingdom and not for our own gain and grandiosement.

Brian McLaren reflects on the miraculous creation of the cosmos and everything in it. In light of the Genesis story, we would say that the possibility of this universe overflowed into actuality as God, the Creative Spirit, uttered the original joyful invitation: Let it be! And in response, what happened? Light. Time. Space. Matter. Motion. Sea. Stone. Fish. Sparrow. You. Me. Enjoying the unspeakable gift and privilege of being here, being alive….

The best thing in Genesis is not simply human beings, but the whole creation considered and enjoyed together, as a beautiful, integrated whole, and us a part. The poetry of Genesis describes the “very goodness” that comes at the end of a long process of creation … when all the parts, including us, are working together as one whole. That harmonious whole is so good that the Creator takes a day off, as it were, just to enjoy it. That day of restful enjoyment tells us that the purpose of existence isn’t money or power or fame or security or anything less than this: to participate in the goodness and beauty and aliveness of creation…. (McLaren, n.d.)

We invite the Spirit to guide our surrender to the invitation of Jesus to transform our talents to be “fishers of people” in our journey to fullness of life.

References

Mark, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/1?14 

McLaren, B. (n.d.). An Intimate Origin Story. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-intimate-origin-story/ 

Meditation on Mark 1:14-20. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/01/12/1478663/ 

1 Samuel, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/1?1 

Psalms, PSALM 116 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/116?12 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Kingdom of God Is at Hand. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Zuegner, C. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved January 12, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-january-12-2026 

Faith and Talent

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present a challenge to assess the extent to which we are using our God given talents to better our world and the bias and boundaries we may need to challenge as followers of Christ.

Bringing Talents for Faith

The Reading from the Second Book of Maccabees presents the choice of Martyrdom of a Mother and Her Seven Sons.

* [7:28] God did not make them out of existing things: that is, all things were made solely by God’s omnipotent will and creative word; cf. Heb 11:3. This statement has often been taken as a basis for “creation out of nothing” (Latin creatio ex nihilo). (2 Maccabees, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 17 is the lament of an individual unjustly attacked.

* [Psalm 17] A lament of an individual unjustly attacked. Confident of being found innocent, the psalmist cries out for God’s just judgment (Ps 17:1–5) and requests divine help against enemies (Ps 17:6–9a). Those ravenous lions (Ps 17:9b–12) should be punished (Ps 17:13–14). The Psalm ends with a serene statement of praise (Ps 17:15). The Hebrew text of Ps 17:3–4, 14 is uncertain. (Psalms, PSALM 17 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, the Parable of the Ten Gold Coins, highlights our responsibility to use our talents.

* [19:11–27] In this parable Luke has combined two originally distinct parables: (1) a parable about the conduct of faithful and productive servants (Lk 19:13, 15b–26) and (2) a parable about a rejected king (Lk 19:12, 14–15a, 27). The story about the conduct of servants occurs in another form in Mt 25:14–20. The story about the rejected king may have originated with a contemporary historical event. After the death of Herod the Great, his son Archelaus traveled to Rome to receive the title of king. A delegation of Jews appeared in Rome before Caesar Augustus to oppose the request of Archelaus. Although not given the title of king, Archelaus was made ruler over Judea and Samaria. As the story is used by Luke, however, it furnishes a correction to the expectation of the imminent end of the age and of the establishment of the kingdom in Jerusalem (Lk 19:11). Jesus is not on his way to Jerusalem to receive the kingly power; for that, he must go away and only after returning from the distant country (a reference to the parousia) will reward and judgment take place.

* [19:13] Ten gold coins: literally, “ten minas.” A mina was a monetary unit that in ancient Greece was the equivalent of one hundred drachmas. (Luke, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB, n.d.)

A Member of Creighton University Community comments that in today’s gospel Jesus isn’t talking about God as an international investment banker. Money is just a metaphor. The underlying message is very clear: What we have received is not for us alone; it is to be shared and thereby multiplied.

We are stewards, pure and simple. Not just of money – but of talent, aptitude, opportunity, health, heritage, industriousness – everything. It’s all gift, no matter how hard we seem to have worked for it. (Others have worked as hard, but failed.) None of it is intended mainly for us, the caretakers. It is to be given, not kept. If we don’t see to it that it benefits everyone else, then we’ve failed, and we’ve lost everything we had been given to boot. Yes, indeed. Not our way at all.

Chance alone ensures that assets will become unevenly distributed over time, whether money, talent, or opportunity. Restoring some measure of evenness is up to us as the stewards of all God’s gifts. It won’t happen without us. A disciple of Jesus is not just a believer, not just a member of a Christian church, but someone who actively continues the Master’s work. (Member of Creighton University Community, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “Talents are divine gifts given to the faithful,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"To those who believe in him, the Savior distributes a variety of divine gifts. We affirm that this is the meaning of the talent. Truly great is the difference between those who receive the talents and those who have even completely denied his kingdom. They are rebels that throw off the yoke of his scepter, while the others are endowed with the glory of serving him. As faithful servants, therefore, they are entrusted with their Lord's wealth. They gain something by doing business. They earn the praises due to faithful service, and they are considered worthy of eternal honors." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 129) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 19:11-28 comments that we can’t expect Jesus to give us a detailed set of instructions or a step-by-step script. That’s not exactly how he works. No, he wants us to be creative and find your own way to invest in the things that Scripture tells you are important to him.

Yes, you may stumble at times, especially if you are just starting out. But anyone experienced in money matters will tell you that investing involves taking risks. You will learn to do better over time. Even more, you’ll learn how patient and merciful your heavenly Master is!

So don’t stay on the sidelines, paralyzed by fear and uncertainty. Today is a perfect day to take the risk of investing in the kingdom of God! 

“Jesus, thank you for calling me to spend myself on you!” (Meditation on Luke 19:11-28, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler common that seven brothers are persecuted for being Jewish by the Seleucid Emperor.  One by one they are martyred for their faith while maintaining belief in the resurrection of the dead. We are not likely to be arrested and martyred, but St Therese of Lisieux describes a martyrdom of pinpricks as we give up our will to serve others. In the Gospel, a king gives gold coins to his servants to invest. One earns ten more. Another earns five more. The one who fails to earn more, loses his coins. The one who has will receive more and one who has little will lose it is applied to our faith. Friar Jude notes Jesus' journey to Jerusalem begins and Luke reminds us Jesus is the king of the parable and we have received talents to grow for the kingdom.

Fr. Mike Schmitz shares the powerful story of the Holy Spirit coming upon the apostles in the upper room. He emphasizes how God calls us to go out into the world with his Spirit and live in community and with devotion to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the Eucharist, and prayer just like the first Christians. Today’s readings are Acts 2, Romans 2-3, and Proverbs 26:27-28.

Brian McLaren offers an episode of the Learning How to See podcast, where Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis speaks of confirmation bias. 

We are all wired by what we’ve experienced to be in search of a story with an ending … that feels like it has a completion. The stories that we gravitate to are the ones that make sense to us, stories that fit, stories that feel like they have continuity, connection to the past, where we’ve been…. Those stories that we will follow are the ones that feel true, feel like they have continuity to our past and that resonate with the trajectory of our lives. We’re looking for the story that doesn’t necessarily change our minds; we’re actually looking for the story that confirms what’s in our minds. [2] (McLaren, n.d.)

Brian McLaren offers a prayer to seek truth and wisdom.

Source of all truth, help me to hunger for truth, even if it upsets, modifies, or overturns what I already think is true. Guide me into all the truth I can bear and stretch me to bear more, so that I may always choose the whole truth, even with disruption, over half- truths with self-deception. Grant me the passion to follow wisdom wherever it leads. Thank you. [3] (McLaren, n.d.)

We are inspired by the Spirit to be grateful for the talents we have as we work in the vineyard of the Lord to affirm the love and generosity of God.

References

Luke, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 19, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/19?11 

McLaren, B. (n.d.). The Power of Confirmation Bias. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 19, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/ 

Meditation on Luke 19:11-28. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved November 19, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/11/19/1432065/ 

Member of Creighton University Community. (2025, November 19). Daily Reflection November 19, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved November 19, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-november-19-2025 

Psalms, PSALM 17 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 19, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/17?1 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). They Did Not Want Me to Reign over Them. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 19, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

2 Maccabees, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 19, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2maccabees/7?1