Gospel: Lk 19:11–28 - (November 20, 2013) Jesus was now near Jerusalem and the people with him thought that God’s reign was about to appear. So as they were listening to him, Jesus went on to tell them a parable. He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant place to have himself appointed king of his own people, after which he would return. Before he left, he summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds. He said: ‘Put this money to work until I get back.’ But his compatriots who disliked him sent a delegation after him with this message: ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ “He returned, however, appointed as king. At once he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made. The first came in and reported: ‘Sir, your pound has earned ten more.’ ”The master replied: ‘Well done, my good servant. Since you have proved yourself capable in a small matter, I can trust you to take charge of ten cities.’ The second reported: ‘Sir, your pound earned five more pounds.’ The master replied: ‘Right, take charge of five cities.’ ”The third came in and said: ‘Sir, here is your money which I hid for safekeeping. I was afraid of you for you are an exacting person; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’ ”The master replied: ‘You worthless servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew I was an exacting person, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow! Why, then, did you not put my money on loan so that when I got back I could have collected it with interest?’ ”Then the master said to those standing by: ‘Take from him that pound, and give it to the one with ten pounds.’ They objected: ‘But, sir, he already has ten!’ ‘I tell you: everyone who has will be given more; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for my enemies who did not want me to be king, bring them in and execute them right here in my presence.’” So Jesus spoke, and he went on ahead of them, on his way to Jerusalem. Reflection: What was ten pounds to a man of noble birth?! Moreover, he went away to be anointed king, and hence, would definitely come back richer than he was before. Thus, entrusting ten pounds to ten of his servants was definitely not meant to make any profit for himself. Rather, it was an act of trust in the servants and perhaps a test of their fidelity and commitment to work for him as well. We do not know how all the ten fared. Of the three that are mentioned, two of the servants happily put the pounds to good use and made a profit and received commendation. One servant remained idle and hid his gift for safekeeping and return to the master. No surprise that the king punished him for his laziness and indifference. God shares His gifts with us not for His own benefit, but for ours. By putting God’s gift to good use, we grow in human maturity and spiritual fervor, thus qualifying for membership and responsibilities in God’s Kingdom. How gloriously those seven sons and their mother (in the Book of Maccabees) put to use the gift of faith God had given them! May their story inspire us to greater investment of God’s gift of faith in our daily life!
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 03:38:15 +0000
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