Sacred Scripture
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. (Luke 19:11-28)
Reflection
Today’s Gospel passage presents a parable rich in implication for how we are living our life and what we are doing to prepare ourselves for eternity.
The nobleman in the parable is Jesus, who left this world but who will return as King one day. The servants the king charges with a task represent followers of Jesus. The King has given us gifts and we are to be faithful to serve Him until He returns. Upon His return, Jesus will ascertain the faithfulness of His own people in terms of what we have done with His commission,
The “commission” is the gift given us by the death of Christ on the cross which promises us the gift of eternal life. That commission also includes the talents and gifts that each of us has for doing good. Doing good by living the words of Christ and sharing them with others through the actions of our life.
As the parable shows, God abhors indifference and honors those who use their talents and gifts for doing good. Those who are faithful with even a little are entrusted with more! But those who neglect or squander what God has entrusted to them will lose what they have.
No one can stand still for long in the Christian life. We either get more or we lose what we have. We either advance towards God or we slip back.
What is your present preoccupation right now? Are you very busy with the things of this world? Seeking how to increase your wealth to buy more and bigger “toys.”? Many of us are perhaps like this: very earthly and always very busy with earthly things. But if we are all busy with the affairs of this world where would we be after our journey in this world is already over and done with? Where would we end up if we do nothing for the kingdom of God in this world?
The questions that beg to be asked are multiple. Do we look for Christ in the poor and most especially in the isolated and the forgotten people in the world around us? Do we seek, where we can and where it is possible, to bring Christ to those hurting in our communities? What have we done to share the Gospel today, or this week, with others, and how have we shared it? Have we been a reflection of Christ today? Most of all, have we made time for God today in prayer and reflection? We can’t do any of those other things in the way that Christ would have us do them if we do not truly know Jesus, and we can come to know him through our prayer life.
In our faith life doing nothing is never an option or faith in Jesus that is kept to oneself is never an alternative. We must share this faith that Jesus has entrusted to us in whatever manner possible so that it could grow and have life.
When we share your faith, our commission is amplified because we enrich our spiritual life and become a productive servant of the Lord.
Prayer of The Day
“Lord, your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Come and be the ruler of my heart and thoughts and be the king of my home and family. Help me to make good use of the gifts, talents, time, and resources you give me for your glory and your kingdom.”
Daily Note
By virtue of knowing Christ, we have all been given at least one “coin” and the responsibility to grow it in our hearts, and on our minds, and on our lips. If we hide that coin – keeping it buried or tucked away where it’s not even considered – we risk losing everything . . . literally, everything. We must do what we can to grow the wisdom and knowledge of the Kingdom here on Earth, to best prepare ourselves for entry into eternity with our Maker. Any other action is being foolish with the gifts we’ve been granted.
