"Come, share in your Master's joy"
Matthew 25:14-30
The 33rd Sunday Year A gospel features another parable of Jesus:
the parable of the silver pieces or talents. It is a parable
preceded by another parable (the ten virgins) and followed by
the account of the Last Judgment (in the 25th chapter of the
Gospel of Matthew). In the parable of the silver pieces, the
story is about a man who went on a journey. But before he left,
he gave silver pieces to each of his three servants, with amounts
according to each of their abilities. Entrusting these amounts
to them, he departed and expected that they invest them to make
a profit until he returns. And as the story goes on, we find
the master returning and discovering his first two servants
making use of their abilities well and providing him with a
profit. The third, however, out of fear, hid his amount under
the ground, and returned it to his master just as it was given
to him. The man was happy with the industriousness of his first
two servants, but condemned the third who did not do anything
with the silver pieces given him.
Although this parable speaks of money being invested and making
a profit out of it, if we also place it in context with the
preceding message of the parable of the ten virgins, and then
with the following account of the Last Judgment, we can see a
broader meaning to the message Jesus wants to teach us in this
Sunday's gospel. All three gospel passages speak of the the
return of the master (Master). But before his return, all are
accountable to him for the time and resources given by him.
The two parables and the Last Judgment account teach us many
lessons: first of all, to be prepared for the return of the
Master - to be on the watch, to be vigilant; second, to wisely
supply ourselves with what is necessary to comply with the
Master's requirements; third, to optimize our use of time and
resources so as to present a profitable return to be given
to the Master; and fourth, to do good and render acts of kindness
and charity to those less fortunate than we are.
So, we shall really come to share in the Master's happiness if
we are like the "wise virgins", the "industrious servants", and
the "charitable people" (the sheep in the Last Judgment account)
of which Matthew speaks of in chapter 25 of his gospel. The
special focus for this Sunday is in being industrious with our
time, talent and resources. In these times of increasing
hardship and difficulty in making ends meet for our families,
are we working harder, praying more intently, finding ways to
save money and profit, growing smarter at solving problems, and
facing life's daily challenges creatively?
Each of us has been given unique abilities and talents. What
Jesus wants of us before we face Him as our King in His judgment
seat, is that we become better than our good, and to use all
that He has given us in life as best as we could for our family
and for others. We will indeed come to share in His joy when
we can offer Him double the good He has given us in life. So
let us therefore never neglect to pray for the gifts of fortitude,
strength, perseverance, prudence, wise stewardship, generosity,
and fidelity to our responsibilities that we may truly please
our Lord with a life industriously lived in His service and His
love.
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