Wednesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 499
Lectionary: 499
I, John, had a
vision of an open door to heaven,
and I heard the trumpetlike voice
that had spoken to me before, saying,
“Come up here and I will show you what must happen afterwards.”
At once I was caught up in spirit.
A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat one
whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian.
Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald.
Surrounding the throne I saw twenty-four other thrones
on which twenty-four elders sat,
dressed in white garments and with gold crowns on their heads.
From the throne came flashes of lightning,
rumblings, and peals of thunder.
Seven flaming torches burned in front of the throne,
which are the seven spirits of God.
In front of the throne was something that resembled
a sea of glass like crystal.
In the center and around the throne,
there were four living creatures
covered with eyes in front and in back.
The first creature resembled a lion, the second was like a calf,
the third had a face like that of a man,
and the fourth looked like an eagle in flight.
The four living creatures, each of them with six wings,
were covered with eyes inside and out.
Day and night they do not stop exclaiming:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty,
who was, and who is, and who is to come.”
Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks
to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
the twenty-four elders fall down
before the one who sits on the throne
and worship him, who lives forever and ever.
They throw down their crowns before the throne, exclaiming:
“Worthy are you, Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things;
because of your will they came to be and were created.”
and I heard the trumpetlike voice
that had spoken to me before, saying,
“Come up here and I will show you what must happen afterwards.”
At once I was caught up in spirit.
A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat one
whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian.
Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald.
Surrounding the throne I saw twenty-four other thrones
on which twenty-four elders sat,
dressed in white garments and with gold crowns on their heads.
From the throne came flashes of lightning,
rumblings, and peals of thunder.
Seven flaming torches burned in front of the throne,
which are the seven spirits of God.
In front of the throne was something that resembled
a sea of glass like crystal.
In the center and around the throne,
there were four living creatures
covered with eyes in front and in back.
The first creature resembled a lion, the second was like a calf,
the third had a face like that of a man,
and the fourth looked like an eagle in flight.
The four living creatures, each of them with six wings,
were covered with eyes inside and out.
Day and night they do not stop exclaiming:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty,
who was, and who is, and who is to come.”
Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks
to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
the twenty-four elders fall down
before the one who sits on the throne
and worship him, who lives forever and ever.
They throw down their crowns before the throne, exclaiming:
“Worthy are you, Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things;
because of your will they came to be and were created.”
Responsorial Psalm PS 150:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. (1b) Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Praise the LORD in his sanctuary,
praise him in the firmament of his strength.
Praise him for his mighty deeds,
praise him for his sovereign majesty.
R. Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Praise him with the blast of the trumpet,
praise him with lyre and harp,
Praise him with timbrel and dance,
praise him with strings and pipe.
R. Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Praise him with sounding cymbals,
praise him with clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath
praise the LORD! Alleluia.
R. Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Praise the LORD in his sanctuary,
praise him in the firmament of his strength.
Praise him for his mighty deeds,
praise him for his sovereign majesty.
R. Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Praise him with the blast of the trumpet,
praise him with lyre and harp,
Praise him with timbrel and dance,
praise him with strings and pipe.
R. Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Praise him with sounding cymbals,
praise him with clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath
praise the LORD! Alleluia.
R. Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Gospel LK 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."
 Kings and Gold Coins |
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November 19,
2014. Wednesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
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By Father John Doyle,
LC
Luke 19:11-28
While they 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 person;
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 person, 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.´ ´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.
Introductory
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the
Alpha and the Omega. You have given me life and offer me eternal life
with you. You deserve my honor, gratitude and love, and yet you never impose
yourself upon me. Thank you for respecting my freedom so that I can offer
myself to you. All that I have is yours; I return it to you.
Petition: Lord Jesus, teach me to be patient and persevering in
using my talents to serve you and my neighbor.
1. Jesus, the
King of Kings: Nowadays there is
renewed interest in the imminence of the Lord’s return in glory. Every Sunday
when we recite the Creed we attest to our faith that Christ “will come again
to judge the living and the dead.” But we also know that we do not know when
it will be, as Our Lord clearly states: “But about that day and hour no one
knows” (Matthew 24:36). So what should we do in the meantime? The answer is
very simple: Live faithful to the values of Christ’s Kingdom and show that he
is our King right now. Are there any areas in my life where Christ is not
ruler? Am I faithful to my Christian commitments? Do I use my time well?
2. Earning One
Gold Coin at a Time: In today’s
parable each servant receives only one gold coin, but some invest it better
than others. There are some gifts that God has given all of us in equal
measure and some that we each receive in varying degrees. At baptism we
receive the gifts of faith, hope and love in seed form, so to speak, and it
is up to us to make sure they are cultivated, irrigated and exposed to enough
light so that they will grow and bear fruit. These gifts of faith, hope and
love are not given to us just for rainy days or moments of trial, but rather
to keep us focused on who we are as children of God and heirs to the kingdom
of heaven. Exercising these virtues is like earning gold, one coin at a time.
How often have I thanked God for his gifts of faith, hope and love? Do I
strive to grow in these virtues by keeping my heart set on the things of
heaven and through charity towards my neighbor?
3. God’s
Generosity: St. John reminds us
that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). God’s essence is self-giving. The man who
hid his coin could not discover or fathom this reality, but the man who
“spent” his gold coin found this out as he was able to earn many more. Jesus
tells us that “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it
remains just a single grain” (John 12:24). Later however a metamorphosis
occurs which brings many new grains of wheat into being. Jesus’ death on the
cross is the perfect example of the transformation of sacrifice and
self-giving into fruitfulness. We can’t have Jesus as our king unless we are
willing to follow him on his journey to Jerusalem and impending death. We
have much to give up, but we have so much more to gain by using our talents
for the Kingdom.
Conversation with
Christ: Lord Jesus, I am
sometimes afraid of what it means to die to myself. Help me to use all of my
talents for your kingdom. Help me to realize that I have nothing to lose and
everything to gain and to take steps courageously to love you.
Resolution: As a way of showing my love for Jesus, today I will
practice patience with someone who annoys me.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, LUKE 19:11-28
(Revelation 4:1-11; Psalm 150)
(Revelation 4:1-11; Psalm 150)
KEY VERSE: "Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter" (v 17).
READING: 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.
REFLECTING: Have I invested my time, treasure and talents in God's kingdom?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to use God's gifts with wisdom and foresight.
Wednesday 19 November 2014
Apocalypse 4:1-11. Holy,
Holy, Holy Lord, mighty God!—Ps 150. Luke 19:11-28.
Today’s gospel episode is
the last before Jesus enters Jerusalem.
He tells a complex parable
that needs to be seen in the light of the fact that some disciples believed the
kingdom of God was about to appear when Jesus entered Jerusalem and some
expected it was imminent even after the Resurrection (Acts 1:6).
With hindsight, we know two
things: Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly on Palm Sunday but full
establishment of the Kingdom had to await two things: the rejection and death
of Jesus and then a long, indefinite period before his final return to judge the
world.
With faith in Jesus, we
live in that indefinite period, the post-Easter time, a time of loving,
creative service, according to our gifts and circumstances. We remember that
Jesus promised, ‘Know that I am with you always’.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
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Virtuous Obedience
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Most saints were convinced that obedience was the first among
virtues. At the heart of virtuous obedience is the attitude of careful
attention to the divine will.
November
19
St. Agnes of Assisi
(1197-1253)
St. Agnes of Assisi
(1197-1253)
Agnes was the sister of St. Clare and her first follower. When
Agnes left home two weeks after Clare’s departure, their family attempted to
bring Agnes back by force. They tried to drag her out of the monastery, but all
of a sudden her body became so heavy that several knights could not budge it.
Her uncle Monaldo tried to strike her but was temporarily paralyzed. The
knights then left Agnes and Clare in peace.
Agnes
matched her sister in devotion to prayer and in willingness to endure the
strict penances which characterized their lives at San Damiano. In 1221 a group
of Benedictine nuns in Monticelli (near Florence) asked to become Poor Clares.
St. Clare sent Agnes to become abbess of that monastery. Agnes soon wrote a
rather sad letter about how much she missed Clare and the other nuns at San
Damiano. After establishing other Poor Clare monasteries in northern Italy,
Agnes was recalled to San Damiano in 1253 when Clare was dying.
Agnes
followed Clare in death three months later, and was canonized in 1753.
Comment:
God must love irony; the world is so full of it. In 1212, many in Assisi surely felt that Clare and Agnes were wasting their lives and were turning their backs on the world. In reality, their lives were tremendously life-giving, and the world has been enriched by the example of these poor contemplatives.
God must love irony; the world is so full of it. In 1212, many in Assisi surely felt that Clare and Agnes were wasting their lives and were turning their backs on the world. In reality, their lives were tremendously life-giving, and the world has been enriched by the example of these poor contemplatives.
Quote:
Charles de Foucauld, founder of the Little Brothers and Sisters of Jesus, said: "One must pass through solitude and dwell in it to receive God’s grace. It is there that one empties oneself, that one drives before oneself all that is not God, and that one completely empties this little house of our soul to leave room for God alone. In doing this, do not fear being unfaithful toward creatures. On the contrary, that is the only way for you to serve them effectively" (Raphael Brown, Franciscan Mystic, p. 126).
Charles de Foucauld, founder of the Little Brothers and Sisters of Jesus, said: "One must pass through solitude and dwell in it to receive God’s grace. It is there that one empties oneself, that one drives before oneself all that is not God, and that one completely empties this little house of our soul to leave room for God alone. In doing this, do not fear being unfaithful toward creatures. On the contrary, that is the only way for you to serve them effectively" (Raphael Brown, Franciscan Mystic, p. 126).
LECTIO DIVINA:
LUKE 19,11-28
Lectio:
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
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, for ever 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, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel reading - Luke 19,11-28
Jesus said the following parable, because he was near Jerusalem
and they thought that the kingdom of God was going to show itself then and
there.
Accordingly 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 the government of ten cities."
Then came the second, "Sir," he said, "your one
pound has made five." To this one also 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 in 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 gift 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
information, Luke presents three reasons which led Jesus to tell this parable:
(a) The acceptance which is to be given to the excluded, referring to the episode
of Zacchaeus, the excluded one whom Jesus accepts. (b) The getting closer to
the Passion, Death and Resurrection, because he said that Jesus was near
Jerusalem where shortly he would be condemned to death (c) The imminent 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 AD), 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 the experience that they had of him was one of
commander to repress the rebellions in Galilee against Rome and it was tragic
and painful. This is why they said: “We do not want this man to be our king!”
To this same Herod they would apply the last phrase of the Parable: “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 employees who
received one hundred silver coins. The story also informs that Herod, after
having obtained the title of king, returned to Palestine to take over the
power. In the Parable, the king called his servants to whom he had given one
hundred silver coins to know how much they had gained. The first one came in
and said: Sir, your talent has produced ten other talents. 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 talent has brought five other talents. 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 talent 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 talent 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 phrase 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 acting in this way, he will not be
punished by the severity of the legislator. In reality, such a person does not
believe in God, but believes only in self, in his observance of the law. He
closes himself up in self; he draws away from God and is not able to be
concerned about others. He becomes incapable to grow as a free person. This
false image of God isolates the human being, kills the community, extinguishes
the 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 coherent with the image he had of God. If he imagined God so
severe, at least he should have put the money in the bank. He is not condemned
by God, but by the mistaken idea that he had conceived of God and which renders
him more immature and more fearful than what he should have been. One of the
things which has more influences in the life of the people is the idea that we
have of God. Among the Jews of the line of the Pharisees, some imagined God as
a severe judge who treated them according to the merit gained by the
observance. That caused fear and prevented persons from growing. And 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 talent from him and give it to the man who has ten
talents. 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 man orders to take way
the one hundred coins and to give them to the one who has one thousand, 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 closes self in self out of fear to lose what he has, he will lose even the
little that 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 risks, he 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 to
change the way of looking, the vision. The Kingdom of God arrives, yes but
through the death and the Resurrection of Jesus which will take place within a
short time in Jerusalem. And the reason for the death and resurrection is the
acceptance which Jesus gives to the excluded, for example to Zacchaeus and to
so many others. He disturbs the great and they eliminated him condemning him to
death, and 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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