Word to the Wise
Saturday, August 30, 2014 - Saturday in the 21th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Cor 1:26-31 and Matt 25:14-30]"Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy." [Matt.]
These words are comforting and challenging at the same time. They are meant to comfort those who both put their trust in God's ultimate reward for faithful living, and to challenge those who live in fear of God's punishment. The community for which Matthew wrote his gospel would have wanted to know how to live until the Lord returned. Matthew's response was to quote the parable in today's gospel scripture. Jesus tells them to live in confidence and to make good use of what God has given to them, and not to live in fear. It is the one who lived in fear of something bad happening who discovered that he would be ultimately lost! Perhaps it could be said that his fears were justified but this did not have to happen. It was a choice he made.
I find it helpful to extend this parable to the Church. We have all been given some responsibility for the Church by our baptism. We can help it to grow and live faithfully and confidently in its mission. Or we can live fearfully and "bury" it so that it looks just the same when the Master returns. The servants who are ultimately rewarded are the ones who were willing to take a prudent risk and accept possible changes in the "talents." The one thing Jesus tells us most is: "Do not be afraid!" In this regard, I find Pope Francis' example inspiring. It is up to each of us, from Pope to pewperson to decide what we will do with our "talent(s)" if we wish to hear the comforting words: "Well done, my good and faithful servant..." AMEN
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