Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
Lectionary: 499
Lectionary: 499
It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested
and tortured with whips and scourges by the king,
to force them to eat pork in violation of God's law.
Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother,
who saw her seven sons perish in a single day,
yet bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord.
Filled with a noble spirit that stirred her womanly heart with manly courage,
she exhorted each of them
in the language of their ancestors with these words:
"I do not know how you came into existence in my womb;
it was not I who gave you the breath of life,
nor was it I who set in order
the elements of which each of you is composed.
Therefore, since it is the Creator of the universe
who shapes each man's beginning,
as he brings about the origin of everything,
he, in his mercy,
will give you back both breath and life,
because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law."
Antiochus, suspecting insult in her words,
thought he was being ridiculed.
As the youngest brother was still alive, the king appealed to him,
not with mere words, but with promises on oath,
to make him rich and happy if he would abandon his ancestral customs:
he would make him his Friend
and entrust him with high office.
When the youth paid no attention to him at all,
the king appealed to the mother,
urging her to advise her boy to save his life.
After he had urged her for a long time,
she went through the motions of persuading her son.
In derision of the cruel tyrant,
she leaned over close to her son and said in their native language:
"Son, have pity on me, who carried you in my womb for nine months,
nursed you for three years, brought you up,
educated and supported you to your present age.
I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth
and see all that is in them;
then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things;
and in the same way the human race came into existence.
Do not be afraid of this executioner,
but be worthy of your brothers and accept death,
so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with them."
She had scarcely finished speaking when the youth said:
"What are you waiting for?
I will not obey the king's command.
I obey the command of the law given to our fathers through Moses.
But you, who have contrived every kind of affliction for the Hebrews,
will not escape the hands of God."
and tortured with whips and scourges by the king,
to force them to eat pork in violation of God's law.
Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother,
who saw her seven sons perish in a single day,
yet bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord.
Filled with a noble spirit that stirred her womanly heart with manly courage,
she exhorted each of them
in the language of their ancestors with these words:
"I do not know how you came into existence in my womb;
it was not I who gave you the breath of life,
nor was it I who set in order
the elements of which each of you is composed.
Therefore, since it is the Creator of the universe
who shapes each man's beginning,
as he brings about the origin of everything,
he, in his mercy,
will give you back both breath and life,
because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law."
Antiochus, suspecting insult in her words,
thought he was being ridiculed.
As the youngest brother was still alive, the king appealed to him,
not with mere words, but with promises on oath,
to make him rich and happy if he would abandon his ancestral customs:
he would make him his Friend
and entrust him with high office.
When the youth paid no attention to him at all,
the king appealed to the mother,
urging her to advise her boy to save his life.
After he had urged her for a long time,
she went through the motions of persuading her son.
In derision of the cruel tyrant,
she leaned over close to her son and said in their native language:
"Son, have pity on me, who carried you in my womb for nine months,
nursed you for three years, brought you up,
educated and supported you to your present age.
I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth
and see all that is in them;
then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things;
and in the same way the human race came into existence.
Do not be afraid of this executioner,
but be worthy of your brothers and accept death,
so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with them."
She had scarcely finished speaking when the youth said:
"What are you waiting for?
I will not obey the king's command.
I obey the command of the law given to our fathers through Moses.
But you, who have contrived every kind of affliction for the Hebrews,
will not escape the hands of God."
Responsorial
PsalmPS 17:1BCD, 5-6, 8B AND 15
R. (15b) Lord,
when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
My steps have been steadfast in your paths,
my feet have not faltered.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
But I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking, I shall be content in your presence.
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
My steps have been steadfast in your paths,
my feet have not faltered.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
But I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking, I shall be content in your presence.
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
AlleluiaSEE JN 15:16
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 19:11-28
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.
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.
Meditation: "They did not want me to reign over
them"
How does God establish his kingdom here on the earth?
The Jews in Jesus' time had a heightened sense that the Messiah would appear
soon to usher in the kingdom of God's justice, love, and peace on the earth
(Isaiah 11:1-9). Jesus, in fact, spoke in messianic terms of the coming reign
of God. Perhaps his entry into Jerusalem would bring about such a change and
overthrow of Roman domination.
Parable of the talents
Jesus speaks to their longing for a new kingdom in the parable of a nobleman who went away to receive a kingdom. The parable reveals something important about how God works his plan and purpose with the human race. The parable speaks first of the king's trust in his subjects. While he goes away he leaves them with his money to use as they think best. While there were no strings attached, this was obviously a test to see if the Master's workers would be industrious and reliable in their use of the money entrusted to them. The master rewards those who are industrious and faithful and he punishes those who sit by idly and who do nothing with his money.
Jesus speaks to their longing for a new kingdom in the parable of a nobleman who went away to receive a kingdom. The parable reveals something important about how God works his plan and purpose with the human race. The parable speaks first of the king's trust in his subjects. While he goes away he leaves them with his money to use as they think best. While there were no strings attached, this was obviously a test to see if the Master's workers would be industrious and reliable in their use of the money entrusted to them. The master rewards those who are industrious and faithful and he punishes those who sit by idly and who do nothing with his money.
The essence of the parable seems to lie in the
servants' conception of responsibility. Each servant entrusted with the
master's money was faithful up to a certain point. The servant who buried the
master's money was irresponsible. One can bury seeds in the ground and expect
them to become productive because they obey natural laws. Coins, however, do
not obey natural laws. They obey economic laws and become productive in
circulation. The master expected his servants to be productive in the use of
his money.
The Lord rewards those who faithfully use their gifts
and talents for doing good by giving them more
What do coins and the law of economics have to do with the kingdom of God? The Lord entrusts the subjects of his kingdom with gifts and graces and he gives his subjects the freedom to use them as they think best. With each gift and talent, God gives sufficient means (grace and wisdom) for using them in a fitting way. As the parable of the talents shows, God abhors indifference and an attitude that says it's not worth trying. God 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.
What do coins and the law of economics have to do with the kingdom of God? The Lord entrusts the subjects of his kingdom with gifts and graces and he gives his subjects the freedom to use them as they think best. With each gift and talent, God gives sufficient means (grace and wisdom) for using them in a fitting way. As the parable of the talents shows, God abhors indifference and an attitude that says it's not worth trying. God 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.
There is an important lesson here for us. 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. Do you seek to serve
God with the gifts, talents, and graces he has given to you?
The Lord Jesus offers us a kingdom of justice, love,
and peace and he calls us to live as citizens of this kingdom where he rules as
Lord and Master. Through his atoning death on the cross and through his
resurrection victory, Jesus frees us from a kingdom of darkness where sin and
Satan reign. Through the power of the Holy Spirit the Lord gives us freedom to
live as his servants and to lay down our lives in loving service of our
neighbors (Galatians 5:1,13).
The Lord expects us to be good stewards of the gifts
and graces he gives us
The Lord entrusts us with his gifts and graces and he gives us freedom to use them as we think best. With each gift and talent, the Lord gives sufficient grace and strength for using them in a fitting way. As the parable of the talents shows, God abhors indifference and an attitude that says it's not worth trying. God 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. There is an important lesson here for us. 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. Do you trust in God's grace to make good use of the gifts and talents he has given you?
The Lord entrusts us with his gifts and graces and he gives us freedom to use them as we think best. With each gift and talent, the Lord gives sufficient grace and strength for using them in a fitting way. As the parable of the talents shows, God abhors indifference and an attitude that says it's not worth trying. God 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. There is an important lesson here for us. 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. Do you trust in God's grace to make good use of the gifts and talents he has given you?
"Lord Jesus, be the ruler of my heart
and mind and the master of my home and goods. Fill me with a generous and wise
spirit that I may use the gifts, talents, time, and resources you give me for
your glory and your kingdom."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Talents are divine gifts given to the
faithful, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444
AD)
"To those who believe in him, the Savior
distributes a variety of divine gifts. We affirm that this is the meaning of
the talent. Truly great is the difference between those who receive the talents
and those who have even completely denied his kingdom. They are rebels that
throw off the yoke of his scepter, while the others are endowed with the glory
of serving him. As faithful servants, therefore, they are entrusted with their
Lord’s wealth. They gain something by doing business. They earn the praises due
to faithful service, and they are considered worthy of eternal
honors." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE,
HOMILY 129)
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, LUKE 19:11-28
(2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31; Psalm 17)
(2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31; Psalm 17)
KEY VERSE: "Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter" (v 17).
TO KNOW: As they neared Jerusalem, Jesus helped his disciples understand that, contrary to Messianic expectations of the day, he was not going to establish an earthly kingdom. By means of allegory, he taught them that his reign was a spiritual one. In the story, he told of a nobleman who went on a journey to secure the rights to his throne. In his absence, he put his servants in charge. On his return, the king demanded an account of each servant's stewardship. The reliable and productive servants were rewarded, while those who acted irresponsibly lost everything. In Jesus' death and resurrection, he also went to a "distant country" (v 12), but he will return with kingly power and divine judgment. At that time, each individual will be evaluated on how they used the gifts God gave them.
TO LOVE: Have I invested my time, treasure and talents in God's kingdom?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to use God's gifts with wisdom and foresight.
Memorial of Saint Cecilia, virgin
and martyr
Cecilia was a young patrician woman who vowed her virginity to God; however, her parents married her to Valerian of Trastevere. Cecilia told her new husband that she was accompanied by an angel, but in order to see it, he must be purified. He agreed and was baptized. Returning from the ceremony, he found her in prayer attended by a praying angel. The angel placed a crown on each of their heads, and offered Valerian a favor. The new convert asked that his brother be baptized. The two brothers developed a ministry of giving proper burial to martyred Christians. They were arrested and martyred for their faith. Cecilia buried them at her villa on the Appian Way, and she was arrested for the action. She was ordered to sacrifice to false gods, and when she refused, she was martyred in turn. The Acta of Cecilia includes the following: "While the profane music of her wedding was heard, Cecilia was singing in her heart a hymn of love for Jesus, her true spouse." It was this phrase that led to her association with music and musicians.
Wednesday 22
November 2017
St Cecilia.
2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31. Psalm 16(17):1,
5-6, 8, 15. Luke 19:11-28.
Lord, when your glory appears, my joy
will be full — Psalm 16(17):1, 5-6, 8, 15.
‘I put it away safely because I was
afraid of you …’
Jesus’ parables often teach us about seizing
opportunity, accepting responsibility and remaining faithful and steadfast. In
today’s parable, the servant, afraid of failing the powerful nobleman with his
reputation for severity, does nothing with the money entrusted to him. It is
his inaction rather than trying and failing that constitutes failure. The
servant wastes the opportunity given to him and shows contempt for the trust
bestowed on him.
Jesus, giving his message of peace and salvation to
his disciples, is asking them to do something with it. Not to store it up and
keep it for themselves as they wait impatiently for God’s kingdom on earth, but
to risk venturing out and sharing the Good News with others.
That is how God’s word—shared imperfectly among people
from community to community over so many years—finds us today.
ST. CECILIA
St. Cecilia's family was one of the principle families of Rome.
According to the cultural custom of the time, Cecilia's family betrothed her to
a young man named Valerius. On their wedding night, Cecilia told Valerius that
she had sworn to remain a virgin before God and that an angel guarded her body,
protecting her virginity from violation. She told Valerius that he would be
able to see this angel if he went to a certain milestone along the road.
Valerius went to the milestone as Cecilia had instructed, and there
encountered Pope Urbanus, who instructed the young man and baptized him.
During that era, it was forbidden for anyone to bury the bodies of Christians, so Valerius and his brother dedicated themselves to burying the bodies of all the Christians they found. For this, they were arrested and brought before a judge who ordered them to worship the Roman god Jupiter, and were martyred when they refused to deny thier Christian faith.
The police then came for Cecilia and strongly advised her to renounce her faith. In reply, she told them that she would prefer to die than to denounce the true faith. Upon hearing her response, they brought her to a large oven with the intention of suffocating her with the hot and toxic gasses it emitted.
During that era, it was forbidden for anyone to bury the bodies of Christians, so Valerius and his brother dedicated themselves to burying the bodies of all the Christians they found. For this, they were arrested and brought before a judge who ordered them to worship the Roman god Jupiter, and were martyred when they refused to deny thier Christian faith.
The police then came for Cecilia and strongly advised her to renounce her faith. In reply, she told them that she would prefer to die than to denounce the true faith. Upon hearing her response, they brought her to a large oven with the intention of suffocating her with the hot and toxic gasses it emitted.
However,
instead of choking, Cecilia began to sing, which is perhaps why she is
considered the patron of musicians. Infuriated, her persecutors attempted to behead
her, but after three strokes of the sword, Cecilia was still alive and her head
was not severed. The soldiers then left her covered in blood in her own
home, where she remained for three days before she died.
LECTIO DIVINA: LUKE 19,11-28
Lectio Divina:
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Ordinary
Time
1) Opening prayer
Father of all that is good,
keep us faithful in serving you,
for to serve you is our lasting joy.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.
keep us faithful in serving you,
for to serve you is our lasting joy.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel reading - Luke 19:11-28
Jesus told the following parable because
He was near Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God was going to
show itself then and there.
Thus He said, "A man of noble birth
went to a distant country to be appointed king and then return. He summoned ten
of his servants and gave them ten pounds, telling them, ‘Trade with these,
until I get back.’”
But his compatriots detested him and
sent a delegation to follow him with this message, "We do not want this
man to be our king." Now it happened that on his return, having received
his appointment as king, he sent for those servants to whom he had given the
money, to find out what profit each had made by trading.
The first came in, "Sir," he
said, "your one pound has brought in ten." He replied, "Well
done, my good servant! Since you have proved yourself trustworthy in a very
small thing, you shall have power over ten cities."
Then came the second, "Sir,"
he said, "your one pound has made five." To this one he said,
"And you shall be in charge of five cities."
Next came the other, "Sir," he
said, "here is your pound. I put it away safely wrapped up in a cloth
because I was afraid of you; for you are an exacting man: you gather in what
you have not laid out and reap what you have not sown." He said to him,
"You wicked servant! Out of your own mouth I condemn you. So you knew that
I was an exacting man, gathering what I have not laid out and reaping what I
have not sown? Then why did you not put my money in the bank? On my return I
could have drawn it out with interest."
And he said to those standing by,
"Take the pound from him and give it to the man who has ten pounds."
And they said to him, "But, sir, he has ten pounds . . ." "I
tell you, to everyone who has will be given more; but anyone who has not will
be deprived even of what he has.
"As for my enemies who did not want
me for their king, bring them here and execute them in my presence." '
When He had said this He went on ahead,
going up to Jerusalem.
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today presents the parable
of the talents in which Jesus speaks of the gifts that persons receive from
God. All persons have some qualities; they receive some gifts or know something
which they can teach to others. Nobody is only a pupil. Nobody is only a
professor. We all learn from one another.
• Luke 19, 11: The key to understand the
story of the parable. To introduce the parable Luke says the following: “At
that time Jesus went on to tell a parable because He was near Jerusalem and the
disciples thought that the Kingdom of God was going to show itself then and
there”. In this initial statement, Luke presents the reasons which led Jesus to
tell this parable: A roximity to the Passion, B The imminen
coming of the Kingdom of God, because the persons who accompanied Jesus thought
that the Kingdom of God would come later.
• Luke 19, 12-14: The beginning of the
parable. “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to be appointed king
and then return. He summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds
telling them, ‘Trade with these, until I get back’”. Some scholars think that
in this parable Jesus is referring to Herod who seventy years before (40 BC),
went to Rome to receive the title and power of King of Palestine. People did
not like Herod and did not want him to become king because of the experience
they had with him. He was the commander who repressed the rebellions in Galilee
against Rome which was tragic and painful. This is why they said: “We do not
want this man to be our king!” The last phrase of this parable would apply to
Herod: “As for my enemies who did not want me for their king, bring them here
and execute them in my presence”. In fact, Herod killed many people.
• Luke 19, 15-19: The account given by
the first of ten servants who each received one pound. The story also recounts
that Herod, after having obtained the title of king, returned to Palestine to
take over power. In the parable, the king called his servants to whom he had
given ten pounds to know how much they had gained. The first one came in and
said: Sir, your pound has produced ten other pounds. He replied, “Well done, my
good servant! Since you have proved yourself trustworthy in a very small thing,
you shall have the government of ten cities.” Then came the second one, and
said, “Sir, your pound has brought five other pounds.” To this one also he
said, “And you shall be in charge of five cities”.
According to the story, Herod the Great
and his son Herod Antipas both knew how to deal with money and to promote the
persons who helped them. In the parable, the king gave ten cities to the servant
who multiplied by ten the money he had received and five cities to the one who
multiplied it by five.
• Luke 19, 20-23: The rendering of
account by the servant who gained nothing. The third servant arrived and said:
“Sir, here is your pound I put it away safely wrapped up in a cloth, because I
was afraid of you, for you are an exacting man, you gather in what you have not
laid out and reap what you have not sown.” In this part, we have a mistaken
idea of God which is criticized by Jesus. The servant considers God a severe
master. Before such a God, the human being is afraid and hides himself behind
the exact and poor observance of the law. He thinks that by acting this way, he
will not be punished severely by the ruler. In reality, such a person does not
believe in God, but believes only in self and in his observance of the law. He
closes himself up in self. He draws away from God and is not concerned about
others. He becomes incapable of growth as a free person. This false image of
God isolates the human being, kills the community, extinguishes joy and
impoverishes life. The king answers: “Out of your own mouth I condemn you,
wicked servant!” You knew that I was an exacting man, gathering what I have not
laid out and reaping what I have not sown? Then why did you not put my money in
the bank? On my return I could have drawn it out with interest. The servant is
not consistent in his image of God. If he imagined God to be so severe,
he should have put the money in the bank. He is not condemned by God, but
by his mistaken idea t of God, which renders him immature and
fearful. . One of the things which greatly influence a person’s life is
his image of God. Some Jews, especially the Pharisees, imagined God
as a severe judge who treated them according to the merits gained
by observance of the Law. This caused fear and prevented people from
growing. Above all, it prevented them from opening a space within
themselves to accept the new experience of God which Jesus communicated.
• Luke 19, 24-27: Conclusion for all.
“And he said to those standing by: Take the pound from him and give it to the
man who has ten pounds.” And they answered: “But, Sir, he already has ten! “I
tell you, to everyone who has will be given more, but anyone who has not will
be deprived even of what he has. As for my enemies who did not want me for
their king, bring them here and execute them in my presence”. The king then
orders it taken away and given to the one who has ten, because “To
everyone who has will be given more, but anyone who has not will be deprived
even of what he has“. In this last phrase is found the key which clarifies the
Parable. In the symbolism of the parable, the silver coin of the king are the
goods of the Kingdom of God, that is, all that which makes the person grow and
which reveals God’s presence: love, service, sharing. Anyone who becomes
selfish out of fear will lose what little he has. Therefore, the
person who does not think only of self, but gives himself/herself to others,
will grow and will receive super abundantly, all that he/she has given and much
more: “one hundred times more, a hundred fold” (Mk 10, 30). “Anyone who wants
to save his life will lose it, anyone who has the courage to lose it, will save
it” (Lk 9, 24; 17, 33; Mt 10, 39; 16, 25; Mk 8, 35). The third servant is
afraid and does nothing. He does not want to lose anything and because of this
he gains nothing. He loses even the little he had. The Kingdom is a risk.
Anyone who does not run, runs a risk and loses the Kingdom!
• Luke 19, 28: Return to the triple
initial key. At the end, Luke closes this theme with the following information:
“Having said these things Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem”. This
final information recalls the triple key given at the beginning: the acceptance
to be given to the excluded, the closeness of the Passion, death and
Resurrection of Jesus in Jerusalem, and the idea of the imminent coming of the
Kingdom. To those who thought that the Kingdom of God was about to arrive, the
parable orders a change in understanding. The Kingdom of God arrives but
through the death and the Resurrection of Jesus which will take place within a
short time in Jerusalem. The reason for Jesus’ death and Resurrection is His
acceptance of the excluded.. He disturbs the great, and they eliminated Him by
condemning Him to death on the cross.
4) Personal questions
• In our community, do we try to know
and to value and appreciate the gifts of every person? Sometimes, the gifts of
others cause jealousy and competitiveness in others. How do we react?
• In our community, is there a space
where persons can show or manifest their gifts?
5) Concluding prayer
Praise God in His holy place,
praise Him in the heavenly vault of His power,
praise Him for His mighty deeds,
praise Him for all His greatness. (Ps 150,1-2)
praise Him in the heavenly vault of His power,
praise Him for His mighty deeds,
praise Him for all His greatness. (Ps 150,1-2)
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