Nov. 19, 2017: 33rd Sunday A
Nov. 19, 2017: 33rd Sunday A
Click to hear Audio Homily
What would you do if someone entrusted to you $1 million? Would you go out on a spending spree, take it to an investment bank, donate it all to a charity, or bury it in the ground where no one can find it? It would be odd to squander an opportunity to invest the money by burying. Could we be doing just that in our spiritual life?
Last week, through the parable of five wise and five foolish virgins, Our Lord instructed us about how to be ready and vigilant as disciples by everyday acts of love, kindness, patience, and selflessness. This week, Our Lord teaches us about the right attitude of a disciple--how to be courageous and productive disciples--through the parable of the talents.
What we need to understand about this parable is that it’s not about making money but what we do with whatever we are entrusted by God. The “talents” represent not so much our natural aptitude and abilities, but God-given opportunities and spiritual gifts which have been allocated differently to each disciple. While on earth, we the disciples are not to be idle but use our specific divine privileges and gifts to serve others to build up the Kingdom of God. But what hampers us from being productive is our attitude.
In today’s parable, the servant who was entrusted with one talent was fear driven and lacked courage. He placed the blame for his unproductiveness on his master, accusing his master of being a hard man. In doing so, he was denying his own responsibilities. His negative attitude revealed that he was not focused on the interest of his master but rather self absorbed.
A director of a center for mentally handicapped shared this story. One day, a man with many problems and great sadness came to visit the director. The director was perplexed why this normal man was so sad and weighed down with problems. He seemed to have everything going for him—money, family, and career. While this visitor was pouring his heart out to the director, a young man with Down’s syndrome entered the office with a great smile. With a great laugh he shook the hands of the director, the “normal” man, and left the office laughing. The “normal” man turn to the director and said, “Isn’t it sad that there are children like that.” The director was struck by the utter blindness of this seemingly “normal” man who could not see how his negative attitude kept him from experiencing gratitude, hope, and happiness. He possessed that for which every man could desire, yet like the servant who buried his one talent in the ground, the “normal” man’s fear and lack of trust bore no fruit for himself and others.
At times are we sad or paralyzed by that kind of self-defeating fear and lack of hope? Has the circumstance of the day made us forgetful of the promise that Jesus made to each of us, “Do not be afraid. I will be with you until the end”? The right attitude of a disciple begins with trust in Jesus that there is no circumstance or adversity that will separate us from the love of Christ. St. Teresa of Avila encourages us, "May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."
As we approach the end of our liturgical year, the scripture readings move us to consider the difficult topic of our end times. We know not the day nor the hour when our own end will be, but as disciples we need to ponder if we are investing enough effort and time in the growth of our spiritual life. As we stop as nation to give thanks with our families, let us remember that all the gifts have been given to us from the God who created us, sustains us and redeems us. Trust Jesus and have the courage to smile for yourself and others that through the love of God, you will accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God.
Click to hear Audio Homily
What would you do if someone entrusted to you $1 million? Would you go out on a spending spree, take it to an investment bank, donate it all to a charity, or bury it in the ground where no one can find it? It would be odd to squander an opportunity to invest the money by burying. Could we be doing just that in our spiritual life?
Last week, through the parable of five wise and five foolish virgins, Our Lord instructed us about how to be ready and vigilant as disciples by everyday acts of love, kindness, patience, and selflessness. This week, Our Lord teaches us about the right attitude of a disciple--how to be courageous and productive disciples--through the parable of the talents.
What we need to understand about this parable is that it’s not about making money but what we do with whatever we are entrusted by God. The “talents” represent not so much our natural aptitude and abilities, but God-given opportunities and spiritual gifts which have been allocated differently to each disciple. While on earth, we the disciples are not to be idle but use our specific divine privileges and gifts to serve others to build up the Kingdom of God. But what hampers us from being productive is our attitude.
In today’s parable, the servant who was entrusted with one talent was fear driven and lacked courage. He placed the blame for his unproductiveness on his master, accusing his master of being a hard man. In doing so, he was denying his own responsibilities. His negative attitude revealed that he was not focused on the interest of his master but rather self absorbed.
A director of a center for mentally handicapped shared this story. One day, a man with many problems and great sadness came to visit the director. The director was perplexed why this normal man was so sad and weighed down with problems. He seemed to have everything going for him—money, family, and career. While this visitor was pouring his heart out to the director, a young man with Down’s syndrome entered the office with a great smile. With a great laugh he shook the hands of the director, the “normal” man, and left the office laughing. The “normal” man turn to the director and said, “Isn’t it sad that there are children like that.” The director was struck by the utter blindness of this seemingly “normal” man who could not see how his negative attitude kept him from experiencing gratitude, hope, and happiness. He possessed that for which every man could desire, yet like the servant who buried his one talent in the ground, the “normal” man’s fear and lack of trust bore no fruit for himself and others.
At times are we sad or paralyzed by that kind of self-defeating fear and lack of hope? Has the circumstance of the day made us forgetful of the promise that Jesus made to each of us, “Do not be afraid. I will be with you until the end”? The right attitude of a disciple begins with trust in Jesus that there is no circumstance or adversity that will separate us from the love of Christ. St. Teresa of Avila encourages us, "May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."
As we approach the end of our liturgical year, the scripture readings move us to consider the difficult topic of our end times. We know not the day nor the hour when our own end will be, but as disciples we need to ponder if we are investing enough effort and time in the growth of our spiritual life. As we stop as nation to give thanks with our families, let us remember that all the gifts have been given to us from the God who created us, sustains us and redeems us. Trust Jesus and have the courage to smile for yourself and others that through the love of God, you will accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God.
