November 13, 2011 (Y-A) -  Saint Andrew Dung Lac and Companions

CRUCIFIED IN CHRIST, CROWNED IN CHRIST

“Well done, my good and faithful servant...!”

INTRODUCTION TO MASS

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions who are Martyrs in Vietnam.. Christianity was brought to Vietnam at the end of 16^th century by European missionaries from Portugal, Spain, and France within a context of an encounter between the East and the West. After a brief period of peace and steady progress, Christianity was considered a ‘False Religion’ (ta dao) and endured 200 year-long persecution where more than 100 000 people were martyred. The tortures these individuals underwent were among the worst in the history of Christian martyrdom. 117 of them were canonized in 1988 by Pope John Paul II.

If we are true to ‘the faith of our fathers’, to the lives and deaths of St. Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions,  we have to carry our cross daily and follow Jesus which is passing another kind of persecution. Christian life is not easy for it demands commitment to truth, to service, sacrificial sufferings for others. But we believe that if we have been crucified in Christ, so will we crowned in Christ.  

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray

[that God will help us to be faithful]

Father of all that is good, keep us faithful in serving you, for to serve you is our lasting joy.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. R. Amen.

FIRST READING 1Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

A reading from the Book of Proverbs

 When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls. Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize. She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. She obtains wool and flax and works with loving hands. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle. She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy. Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her a reward for her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates.

The Word of the LORD.

R. Thanks be to GOD.

R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.

R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.

R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.

R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

SECOND READING 1 Thes 5:1-6

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians

 Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you.  For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. When people are saying, "Peace and security," then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief.  For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness.  Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober.

R. Thanks be to GOD

ALLELUIA

Alleluia, Alleluia.

Remain in me as I remain in you, says the Lord.

Whoever remains in me bears much fruit.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

GOSPEL Mt 25:14-30

V. The Lord be with you                                       R. And also with you.

X A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

R. Glory to you, Lord

 Jesus told his disciples this parable: "A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one-- to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money.

After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five.  He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents.  See, I have made five more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant.  Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come; share your master's joy.' Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come; share your master's joy.' Then the one who had received the one  talent came forward and said,  'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting  where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off  and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.' His master said to him in reply, 'you wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter?  Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?  Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'"

R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.