Msgr. Roger J. Landry
National Director, The Pontifical Mission Societies
Daily Reflection for November 19, 2025
Here is the video of today’s reflection.
The Youtube generated transcript for today’s reflection is:
I’m Monsignor Roger Landry, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies here in the museum of the Shrine of Our Lady Martyrs, where you see various of the artifacts from the work of the North American martyrs here in this sacred spot. In today’s Gospel, as we continue to ponder the last things in this month of November, heaven, hell, and what precedes them, death and judgment, we’re able to reflect on the choices made by the North American martyrs and on the extraordinary words in a parable Jesus gives us today in the gospel. It’s called the parable of the gold coins in which Jesus describes a king who upon his departure from the place takes in 10 of his servants, gives them each the extraordinary wealth of a gold coin and says, “Invest these until I return.” One took that gold coin, invested it, and made 10 more. Another invested, made five more. Enormous sums, enormous returns. The third knew that the king was demanding and because of fear, because of laziness, he just buries it. And when the king comes back, he restores the one coin. And the co the king was upset. He said, “Why didn’t he even put it into the bank in order to gain interest?” And he took the gold coin and he gave it to the one with 10. And people were gas. He already has 10 coins, they say. And he said, “To the one who has more will be given, and to the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” It’s a principle we all know from life. If we study, we retain the information. If we don’t study, it eventually gets lost. If we exercise our muscles, they grow stronger. If we don’t exercise, they grow weaker. If we practice the piano, we get better. If we don’t practice, we can’t even play simple stuff anymore. It’s the same lessons with the spiritual life. If we live by faith, our faith grows stronger. If we don’t live by faith, hope, and love, then those virtues in us will atrophy and weaken and sometimes even disappear. So, what are we going to do with the gold coin that the Lord gives us today? How are we going to invest it? He gives us the opportunity to read sacred scripture. Are we going to make interest off of it? Gives us the opportunity to turn to us in prayer. How are we going to take advantage of that gift? He gives us the opportunity of the sacraments around us in most places. Are we going to avail ourselves of those encounters with the Lord? He gives us so many opportunities for charity. Are we going to use them for their real purpose to help love others as we have been loved by God first? The North American martyrs were ones who did not waste their life. They knew the treasure of the faith and they wanted to enrich the whole world. Leaving France and coming to the cold areas of Canada and upstate New York in order to share the faith with the indigenous Americans here who often didn’t receive it well. The North American martyrs would be martyed by the Mohawks, but it was still very much worth their sacrifices and they were willing to invest their life to make the Mohawks rich. They continue to pray for all of us that we might have a true missionary spirit and seek to enrich the whole world because in doing so we will be making interest for the king on the trust he has shown us in giving us the gold coin in so many ways. And we pray for the fruitful investment of the lives of so many missionaries all across the globe that through the intercession of the North American martyrs and likewise by following the example they might bear fruit that will that will endure. God bless you all.
The Gospel reading on which the reflection was based on:
Gospel
While people were listening to Jesus speak,
he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem
and they thought that the Kingdom of God
would appear there immediately.
So he said,
“A nobleman went off to a distant country
to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return.
He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins
and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’
His fellow citizens, however, despised him
and sent a delegation after him to announce,
‘We do not want this man to be our king.’
But when he returned after obtaining the kingship,
he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money,
to learn what they had gained by trading.
The first came forward and said,
‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’
He replied, ‘Well done, good servant!
You have been faithful in this very small matter;
take charge of ten cities.’
Then the second came and reported,
‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’
And to this servant too he said,
‘You, take charge of five cities.’
Then the other servant came and said,
‘Sir, here is your gold coin;
I kept it stored away in a handkerchief,
for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man;
you take up what you did not lay down
and you harvest what you did not plant.’
He said to him,
‘With your own words I shall condemn you,
you wicked servant.
You knew I was a demanding man,
taking up what I did not lay down
and harvesting what I did not plant;
why did you not put my money in a bank?
Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’
And to those standing by he said,
‘Take the gold coin from him
and give it to the servant who has ten.’
But they said to him,
‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’
He replied, ‘I tell you,
to everyone who has, more will be given,
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king,
bring them here and slay them before me.'”
After he had said this,
he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.