Weekly Bulletin 15th November 2020

Today is the 33 Sunday of the Year. We are coming near the end of the Church’s Liturgical Year. The Gospel (Matthew 25:14-30) today speaks about getting ready for the return of the Lord! We are called to get ready for the return of the Lord by using the talents and gifts that we possess. We are called to live in an active and responsible manner by using our God-given inner resources. The master has not laid a burden on the three servants when he gave them gifts.  He give each an amount suitable for them to take care of. The talent was equivalent to the wages that a labourer would accrue in fifteen years. The servant with the one talent has been entrusted with substantial responsibility. The gifts are given according to “each one’s ability!” (Matthew 25:16)  The parable continues with the five talent person getting five more and the two talent person gets two more, they receive equal praise; “Well done good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21).  Those who prove resourceful and trustworthy enter the kingdom (like the wise bridesmaids in last Sunday’s gospel). The one who received only one talent buried it in the ground because he was afraid of his Master. There is nothing in the parable to justify this charge against his Master. To entrust even one talent – the wage of an ordinary worker for fifteen years – to someone else shows considerable magnanimity, generosity and big heartedness. The motivation for the third servant hiding his talent was that he “feared”. It was timidity that spelt his downfall which was not warranted by anything known directly about the master. He worked out of an incorrect understanding of his master. He thought his Master hard even though he himself had been treated generously. He thought of himself as a victim and created a world in which by tragic irony he became a victim. He let his misperceptions about his Master govern his behaviour. He did nothing and he loses everything. Fr. Anthony  de Mello S.J. tells a little story about someone who invents stories in their head and goes on to believe in them: 

“The village priest was distracted in his prayers by children playing outside his window. To get rid of them he shouted, “There’s a terrible monster down at the river. Hurry there and you will see him breathing fire through his nostrils” Soon everyone in the village had heard of this monstrous apparition and rushed in the direction of the river. When the priest saw this he joined the crowd. As he panted his way to the river that was four miles away he thought, “It’s true I invented the story. Still you can never tell!”  

We all have the ability to invent stories in our heads about ourselves and others…..and sometimes we act out of these foolish stories. The first two servants are described as being faithful in little, the last servant is called slothful. Paul uses the same word in his letter to the Romans 12:11 “Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come and keep on praying” Last Sunday’s Gospel the foolish bridesmaids and now in this Sunday’s Gospel the third servant is punished for his presumptuous inactivity. The time before the return of Jesus, is for Matthew, a time that must be used responsibly.

Jubilee Year for Passionists: The Passionist Congregation is 300 years old! Next Sunday 22 November 2020 the 4:00 pm Mass here in the Graan will be celebrated to inaugurate a Jubilee Year for our Passionist Congregation. On this day 300 years ago our founder St. Paul of the Cross established us as a Congregation within the Church.  It is not a celebration of our greatness or our successes; rather it is a celebration of the blessings of God during these three centuries and the fidelity of innumerable Passionists who, through their life and their mission, and despite their human weakness and frailties, have kept alive the memory of the Passion of Jesus as a magnanimous and concrete act of the love of God. 

Feasts of the Week: Monday: St. Margaret of Scotland (1045-1093) wife of Malcolm 111, King of Scotland, helped by her example and influence the work of reform in the Church. Tuesday: St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231) queen at fourteen, widowed and exiled at twenty, a Franciscan tertiary until her death at twenty four. A woman of prayer and service of the poor. Saturday: The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – a feast that celebrates her grace-filled life, wholly given over to the Holy Spirit. This feast day was important to our Founder St. Paul of the Cross.

Graan Draw: Our first prize in our draw is £5000 and the second prize is £1000 followed by prizes of £100. Because of Covid regulations we are unable to sell tickets in our usual outlets and we would appreciate it so much if you could help to sell a couple of books of tickets for us. The draw will take place on the 8 December 2020

Thank you for your generosity, kindness and wonderful support for the Graan. We are indebted for your charity to us especially during these days when we are all experiencing financial constraints because of current circumstances. We are also indebted for your prayers. Be assured of a remembrance in the daily prayers of this community. 

DUTY FOR THE WEEK: Sun & Mon No Duty. Monday 16^th  Nov Mass 7pm  –  Arthur.    Tues (17^th Nov) –  Arthur. Wed 18^th  Nov  – Charles. Thurs 19^th  Nov  – Charles. Fri 20^th Nov – Charles. Sat 21st Nov – Arthur.

“May Hope Be Yours‘ – CD:  As we move through this pandemic, funds raised by the sale of this CD will be of great benefit to so many families and individuals whose challenged circumstances became even more challenged because of Covid-19.  All proceeds go to St. Vincent de Paul Society.  Cost: £15 and available at the Graan shop. Thanks for your generosity.

The Shop: There is a great selection of cribs on display as well as candles, diaries, cards and suitable gifts for Christmas. Christmas Mass Bouquets:

We have a new selection of Christmas Mass Bouquets  which cost £2 / €2.50. 

Guild Mass Cards: We have a wide selection of Mass cards. Go to www.thegraan.com. We value your support.