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In today’s gospel Jesus
addresses a parable to his disciples about three stewards who were
entrusted with huge sums of money while their master went on a journey.
Apparently the master knew that they were not equally capable so he gave
each of them an amount commensurate to their ability. Still he entrusted
all three with huge amounts. Returning the master settled accounts. Two
of them had risen to the challenge and doubled the sum entrusted to
them. The third came forward with the original amount and nothing more
than an excuse. I knew what you expected and was afraid, so I took what
you gave me and buried it, here it is.
Does the master’s reaction
surprise you? How could he be so cruel to take away the one talent and
gave it to the chap with ten and then cast the looser out into the
darkness besides? Why so angry? What was the great sin here? The lazy
steward failed to recognize the abundance of his blessings. Instead of
rejoicing in his master’s trust and putting forth his best effort, the
lazy steward acted out of fear and buried the treasure. The real lesson
here is about stewardship. Each of us has been gifted by God, according
to our ability, with huge amounts of personal capital. That gift was not
given just for our personal pleasure. God expects something wonderful
from us in return for his investment.
In the first reading from the Book of Proverbs we are told about the
worthy wife whose value is priceless. She is a blessing to her husband,
her family, and her community. In her case fear of the Lord did not lead
to paralysis but to gratitude and service in response for all that God
had given. Think of Mother Theresa. She squandered everything God gave
her on the poor and the dying in the streets of Calcutta. Finally she
herself died penniless, but her simple unshakable devotion to God’s poor
attracted the attention of the world.
Paul reminds us that the only
time to use our talents is now. Just when people are saying, “Peace and
security,” disaster befalls them. Unlike the lazy steward we have not
been cast into the dark, we are children of the light (Christ).
Therefore we should stay awake and alive, not asleep and dead like the
rest of society. This is the only chance we have to turn the gifts God
has entrusted to us into a harvest for his kingdom. |
