“ASPIRE TO LIVE QUIETLY”

Meditation for Saturday of the 21^st Week in Ordinary Time
(1 Thes 4:1-8; Mt 25:1-13)

After instructing the Thessalonians to abstain from immorality and live for sanctification and holiness, St Paul begins to exhort them on love for one another. According to St Paul, it is taken for granted that the person who believes in God has learnt from Him how to love one another. “But we exhort you, brethren, to do so more and more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you.” Let us meditate on the words of St Paul to deepen our love for one another, and clothe ourselves with the garments of silence and serenity
. This enables us to stay focused and carry out our works diligently.

In the parable of the talents, the master entrusted to each of the three servants according to their individual capacity. While the first two servants doubled what was given to them, the low-capacity unproductive servant had much to complain about his master and the task ahead! Did he wish to be given five talents like the other servant? He would have complained of being overstressed! Now, the master loved him and gave him one talent according to his capacity, still, he grumbled and accused him of stinginess! His tongue was swift to vomit excuses for being unproductive and acting wickedly. This is what happens when someone’s tongue is busier than his hands! Since such a servant proved himself unworthy of the favor shown him, “Even what he has will be taken away.”

To avoid such a regrettable end, let us follow the path of humility that St Paul taught the Thessalonians to carry out our duties in silence and love. Then, with our commitment and focus, the Master Jesus will double the fruits of our labors. “For everyone who has will more be given, and he will have abundance.” Amen.

 

St Augustine of Hippo, pray for us! Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Saturday August 28^th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com