Contemplating today's Gospel
Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)
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».
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.
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.
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.
“Engage in trade with these until I return”
Fr. Pere SUÑER i Puig SJ (Barcelona, Spain)Today, the Gospel presents us with the parable of the pounds—a sum of money that a nobleman entrusted to his servants before going on a journey. Let us first look at the context that prompted Jesus to tell this parable. He was “going up” to Jerusalem, where His Passion and Resurrection awaited Him. The disciples “thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately” (Lk 19:11). It is in this situation that Jesus tells the parable. Through it, He teaches us that we must make fruitful the gifts and talents He has given us—or better said, has entrusted to each of us. They are not “ours” in such a way that we may do with them whatever we please. He has left them to us so that we may make them bear fruit. Those who have done so—whether more or less—are praised and rewarded by their Master. It is the lazy servant, who kept the money wrapped in a cloth and did nothing with it, who is rebuked and condemned.
The Christian, then, must certainly await the return of his Lord, Jesus. But there are two conditions, if we wish that encounter to be a friendly one. The first is to reject the unhealthy curiosity of wanting to know the exact hour of the Lord’s solemn and victorious return. In another passage He says that He will come when we least expect it. Therefore, let us set aside all such speculation! We wait with hope—but a trusting hope, not one tainted by vain curiosity. The second condition is not to waste time. The expectation of that joyful encounter and final fulfillment must never become an excuse for neglecting the present moment. In fact, the joy of that final meeting will be all the greater the more each of us has contributed to the cause of the Kingdom during this earthly life.
Here, too, we find Jesus’ grave warning to those who rebel against Him: “As for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me” (Lk 19:27).
Thoughts on Today's Gospel
“When a Christian kills time on this earth, he is putting himself in danger of 'killing Heaven' for himself” (Saint Josemaria)
“Any environment, even the furthest and most impractical, can become a place where our talents can bear fruit. There are no situations or places precluded from the Christian presence and witness.” (Francis)
“… Each man is established as an "heir" and receives certain "talents" that enrich his identity and whose fruits he must develop. He rightly owes loyalty to the communities of which he is part...” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n 1880)
