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reading from The Book of Revelation of
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St John I John saw a door open in heaven
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and the voice that before I had heard
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speaking to me like a trumpet said come
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up here that I may show you the things
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that must take place after these
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immediately the spirit took hold of me
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there was a throne in heaven and on the
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throne there was someone sitting he who
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sat looked like a stone of Jasper and
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Carnelian a rainbow surrounded the
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throne with Emerald Reflections around
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the throne were 24 other Thrones in them
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sat 24 Elders all of them dressed in
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white and with golden crowns on their
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heads from the throne came lightning
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voices and thunder Before the Throne
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seven lamps of fire were burning which
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are the seven spirits of God in front of
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the throne there was a sea of crystal
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clear glass in the middle around the
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throne were four living beings full of
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eyes in front and behind the first
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living being looked like a lion the
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second looked like a bull the third had
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the face of a man the fourth looked like
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an eagle in Flight each of the four
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living beings had six wings covered with
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eyes around and inside day and night
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without stopping they proclaimed holy
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holy holy Lord God Almighty he who is
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who was and who is coming living beings
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gave glory honor and Thanksgiving to the
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one who was on the throne and who lives
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forever and every time the living beings
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did this the 24 Elders prostrated
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themselves before the one who sat on the
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throne to worship the one who lives
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forever they placed their crowns Before
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the Throne of God and said Lord Our God
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you are worthy to rece receive glory
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honor and power because you created All
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Things by your will they exist and were
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created word of the Lord thank
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God proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus
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Christ according to St Luke Glory To You
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Lord at that time Jesus added a parable
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because he was close to Jerusalem and
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they thought that the kingdom of God
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would arrive soon then Jesus said a
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noble man went to a distant country to
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be crowned King and then return then he
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called 10 of his servants gave each one
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a 100 pieces of silver and said try to
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trade until I return his fellow citizens
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however hated him and sent an embassy
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after him saying we do not want this man
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to Reign Over us but the man was crowned
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King and and returned money in order to
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know how much each one had profited the
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first one arrived and said sir the 100
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coins made 10 times as much the man said
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well done good servant as you have been
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faithful in small things received the
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government of 10 cities the second one
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came and said sir the 100 coins yielded
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five times as much you also received the
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government of five cities the other
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servant came and said sir here are your
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100 coins that I kept in a handkerchief
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because I was afraid of you because you
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are a severe man you have given and reap
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what you did not sow the man said you
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Wicked servant I judge you by your own
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mouth you knew that I am a severe man
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who receives what I did not give and
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reap what I did not sell didn't you
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deposit my money in the bank when I
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arrived I would withdraw with interest
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then he said to those present take the
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100 coins from him and give them to the
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one who has a thousand he already has a
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thousand coins he replied I tell you to
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everyone who already has more will be
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given but from him who has nothing even
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what he has will be taken away and as
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for these enemies who did not want me to
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Reign Over them bring them them here and
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kill them in front of me Jesus walked
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walked ahead of the disciples going up
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to Jerusalem word of Salvation Glory To
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Lord dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
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get up here with these powerful words
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our first reading today begins John the
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Visionary of Revelation is invited to
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contemplate a reality that transcends
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our Earthly understanding it is as if a
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door opens in heaven itself revealing a
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spectacle of indescribable Glory imagine
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the scene that John Witnesses a throne
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resplendant like Jasper and Carnelian a
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rainbow shining like an emerald 24
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Elders in white robes with crowns of
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gold lightning and thunder seven burning
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lamps a sea of Crystal what an
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extraordinary sight it is an attempt to
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describe in limited human words
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the infinite Majesty of God and in the
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center of it all the four living beings
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full of eyes chanting without ceasing
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holy holy holy is the Lord God the
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almighty he who was who is and who is to
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come this Timeless song reminds us that
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worship is not something we do only on
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Sundays or at specific times it is the
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natural and continuous response of all
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creation to the glory of God but why is
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this Vision important to us today
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because it offers us a transformative
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perspective in a world where we are
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constantly bombarded by Earthly worries
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everyday problems and anxieties about
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the future Revelation reminds us that
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there is a greater reality there is a
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throne in heaven and someone is sitting
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on it and this is where our Gospel
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reading connects in a fascinating way
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with this heavenly vision Jesus tells a
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parable about a noble man who goes to a
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distant region to be crowned King before
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leaving he entrusts 10 coins to 10
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servants saying negotiate until I return
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it's not hard to see the parallel with
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our own situation Christ Our King
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ascended to Heaven that same Throne that
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John saw in his vision but he did not
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leave us empty-handed each of us has
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been given talents gifts resources
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opportunities and with these gifts comes
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a responsibility trade until I return
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note the contrast between the two
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readings in Revelation we see the glory
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of Heaven the Perpetual adoration the
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Divine Majesty in the gospel we are
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called to practical action to diligent
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work to faithfulness in little things
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it's as if God says to us yes there is a
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throne in heaven but you have work to do
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on Earth the servant in the parable
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respond in different ways to the
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responsibility they have been given the
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first multiplied his coin by 10 the
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second by five but the third out of fear
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simply hid what he received sir he says
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I kept your coin in a handkerchief
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because I was afraid of you how ironic
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the servant who feared his master the
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most was precisely the one who honored
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him least his fear paralyzed him
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preventing him from using what he had
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been given how many times do we also
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allow fear to paralyze us fear of
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failing fear of not being good enough
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fear of what others will think but the
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vision of Revelation offers us an
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antidote to this fear when we
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contemplate the Majesty of God when we
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understand that he reigns Sovereign over
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all things our fear transforms into
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confidence it is not a tyrannical God
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who has entrusted us with his gifts but
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a loving father who wants to see his
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children grow and develop the 24 Elders
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on the Heavenly Throne lay their crowns
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Before the Throne recognizing that
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everything they have comes from God and
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belongs to him likewise we are called to
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use our gifts not for our own Glory but
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for the glory of him who created us and
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redeemed us the parable teaches us that
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there will be an accounting the king
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returns and calls his servants to see
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what they did with what they received
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those who have been faithful are
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rewarded not only with more
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responsibilities but with the joy of
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their lord well done good servant
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because you have been faithful in a
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little receive the government of 10
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cities what a wonderful promise our
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faithfulness in small things today
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prepares us for greater responsibilities
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in the kingdom of God Every Act of
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service every Talent used for the good
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of others every moment of faithfulness
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significance so my dear brothers and
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sisters what will we do with this double
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vision that today's readings offer us
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how will we live in light of heavenly
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responsibility first we must cultivate a
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life of worship like the four living
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beings we need to keep our eyes fixed on
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the Holiness and Majesty of God this
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adoration is not limited to moments of
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formal worship but must permeate our
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we must be faithful stewards of the
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gifts we have received each of us has
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something unique to contribute to the
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kingdom of God it could be a musical
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Talent an ability to teach a gift of
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hospitality financial resources or
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simply time and energy to serve others
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third we must not allow fear to paralyze
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us the servant who hid his coin lost not
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only the reward but also the opportunity
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to experience the joy of serving his
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master master god did not give us a
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spirit of fear but of power love and
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moderation fourth we must live with an
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eternal perspective the difficulties and
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challenges we face today are temporary
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but the consequences of our faithfulness
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are Eternal like the elders who lay
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their crowns Before the Throne we must
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remember that everything we have and are
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belongs to God finally we must live in
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expectation of the king's return like
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the servants in the parable we are in a
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period of active waiting we do not know
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when our Lord will return but we know
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that we must be busy with his work until
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he comes imagine the moment when like
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John we will be called to ascend and
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behold Heavenly Glory face to face what
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a joy it will be to hear the words well
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done good and faithful servant may we
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live today in such a way that we are
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prepared for this moment may the God of
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all glor Glory who Reigns Supreme Over
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the universe give us Grace to be
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faithful in little courage to use the
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gifts he has entrusted to us and wisdom
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to always live in the light of Eternity
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and May the peace of God which surpasses
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all understanding guard your hearts and
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Minds in Christ Jesus our lord
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amen s Michael the Archangel defend Us
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in battle be our protection against the
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wickedness and snares of the devil may
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God rebuke him we humbly pray and do
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thou o Prince of the Heavenly Host by
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the power of God cast into hell Satan
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and all the evil spirits who prowl
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throughout the world seeking the ruin of
