Our Sabbath Scripture Stories – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle A

Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

  • Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
  • Matthew 25:14-30

A strange thing sat in the middle of the living room.  It was one of Mom’s T.V. trays draped with a blue cloth.  In the middle of the tray proudly stood … the toaster?!?

“Mom!  What’s this all about?” Vincent laughed, as he entered the room.  “Are we having breakfast again?”

“Not quite, Vincent!” Mom laughed.  “I don’t know what this is.”  Then in hushed tones she whispered, “I think it’s one of your dad’s Gospel lesson ideas again!”

From the upstairs a loud voice cried out, “Everyone in the living room!  We’re going to do our Scripture reading for today!”

Then Dad appeared, sweeping into the room with a cape and top hat.  But was it really Dad, or was it (ta-da) the “Amazing Mister Pauline!”?

The Amazing Mister Pauline addressed his audience who sat clapping their approval on the floor of the living room.  “Thank you, thank you, one and all.  It is now my privilege to read to you the Scripture passage from Matthew, Chapter 25, and then demonstrate it with my toaster!”

“This should be great!” all the family cheered.

Dad very reverently read the Holy Gospel that the family would soon be hearing at Mass.  It was the great account of the three servants who were given silver pieces according to their abilities. 

Dad, or should we now say, the Amazing Mister Pauline, began.  “This Gospel, My Dear Family, is often called the ‘parable of the talents.’  And on this table we have our very own … TALENT TOASTER!”

Little Hillary squealed with excitement, and the others “ooh-ed” and “ahh-ed.”   Dad continued with the unplugged Talent Toaster.

“Okay, let’s see what happened with the first servant,” Dad went on.  “The master gave him 5,000 silver pieces because he was an industrious soul.” 

Dad put into one of the toaster slots a piece of cardboard marked $5,000 and popped it down.

“And when the master asked for an accounting of what he did with the $5,000 … WA-LA!  The man presents him with an additional $5,000!” 

With that remark, Dad popped up the toaster and an additional cardboard card marked $5,000 came up with the other one.

“How’d you do that?” the family cried out.

“Patience, patience,” the Amazing Mister Pauline answered them slyly.  “I don’t reveal my sources!”

The Amazing Mister Pauline took out the two cardboard cards marked $5,000 and continued.  “Next, we have the servant who received 2,000 silver pieces according to his abilities.  And again, we have a card marked with the amount … ” He put a card marked $2,000 into the toaster slot and popped it down.

“So when the master asked for an account of this servant’s money … WA-LA!  He doubled his silver!”

The toaster proudly popped up again to show another $2,000 card now appearing in the other toaster slot!

“Dad, that’s amazing!” Vincent gushed.

“Thank you, thank you,” the Amazing Mister Pauline repeated as he removed the $2,000 cards and put into the slot a card marked $1,000.

“Then finally,” he went on, “we have the servant who was given 1,000 silver pieces according to his abilities.  And what did our Gospel say he did with it?”

“He buried it!” Mary Clare chimed in.

“Exactly, Mary Clare!” the Amazing Mister Pauline nodded.  “In fear, the servant buried the money and guarded or hid the gift his master gave him.  Let’s see what happens when we pop down our Talent Toaster.”

The card disappeared into the Talent Toaster and everyone watched the Amazing Mister Pauline pop it back up again.  Nothing appeared in the second slot. 

“You see, Kids,” Dad concluded, “the servants were given money according to their talents and abilities, just as God has given us special gifts to use according to our talents and abilities.  It is wonderful when our talents show a reward.  Maybe God has given us the special talent of persuasion.   We could use that to evangelize others to His love.  If God gave us the special talent to teach, we could use that to show others the ways of faith.  But what happens if we hide the talents and abilities God gives us?”

“Nothing happens.  And God doesn’t like that!” Vincent replied.

“Exactly, Vincent!” Dad answered, as he started removing his cape and hat.  “We all have special abilities, and we must use them to further the kingdom of God.”

“Great, Dad,” Vincent agreed, “but I have one more question.”  As  he eyed the Talent Toaster, he begged, “now how DID YOU DO THAT?”

And Dad could only smile.

“Come, share your master’s joy.”
(Matthew 25:23c)

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Cycle A, 33 OT, SSSDownload

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