November 15, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Continuing with our reflection on the Last Things, this week I’d like to focus on something we usually don’t like to think about: the final judgment. Our Gospel today is the famous Parable of the Talents. In it, three stewards are each entrusted with part of their master’s property while he is away, and upon his return, he judges what each of them have done with it. Usually when we hear this parable, our minds immediately go to the idea of stewardship—and that’s very natural! But as we contemplate the Last Things, I think we can also hear an echo of a bigger truth here. I love the words that the Master says to the good stewards: “Come, share your master’s joy.” Since we are all God’s children, every human being has two possibilities within ourselves. We can be like the good stewards, who grew into what they were made to be: open to the infinite and eternal joys of life with God in heaven. Or in our selfishness and fear, we can be like the unfaithful steward, closing ourselves off from God’s love and missing out on what we were made to be. With the final judgment, we know that God will one day set his seal upon the choices we’ve made. That’s a sobering thought. But at the same time, we know that the God who will judge us is our loving Father, and that he’s giving us all the assistance we need right now to become people capable of receiving the fullness of his love. As we come to the holiday season, I am deeply grateful that St. Thomas is a place where so many people have come to experience God’s love. Thank you all for showing that love to me and to everyone who walks through our doors. Through the prayers of the Blessed Mother and our patron St. Thomas, let’s look at each day in the light of eternity, and resolve to continue to grow in that love. God bless,

Father Jantz