Welcome to the Retreat

Symbols water and salt - Prayer to the Holy Spirit

“We light candles of grace to ease heavy burdens”

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 25: 14 – 30

It will be as when a man who was 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.’
 

When Death Comes
Mary Oliver

When death comes like a hungry bear in autumn;
When death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse
to buy me and snaps the purse shut; when death comes like the measle-pox;
when death comes like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,
I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering;
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?
And therefore I look upon everything as a brotherhood and a sisterhood, and I look upon time as no more than an idea and I consider eternity as another possibility,
and I think of each life as a flower, as common as a field daisy, and as singular and each name a comfortable music in the mouth, tending, as all music does, toward silence,
and each body a lion of courage, and something precious to the earth.

When it’s over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride  married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
When it’s over, I don't want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular and real.
I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened, or full of argument.
I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.”

Reflection Questions for the Week

What connections are there between the parable and the poem?

Are there people in your life who are stuck or afraid?  Are there ways you can reach out to them?
 
Where and how do you see the Holy Spirit invested in your life?  What Gift or Fruit of the Spirit do you need?
 
The Gifts of the Spirit are: wisdom, understanding, courage, reverence, wonder, knowledge, fortitude.
  
The Fruits:  Love, joy, peace, faithfulness, kindness, self-control, goodness, patience, gentleness,
Please have a candle, matches, a small bowl of water and a bit of salt with you for our next Small Group Reflection