Word to the Wise
Saturday, September 2, 2023 - Saturday in the 21th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Thess 4:9-11 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!'" [Matthew]
Oh, don't we all want to hear that at the end of life? The point of the parable, however, is that we need to provide evidence for the Master to make a determination. All three servants in the parable were given a considerable sum in biblical terms, but the amount is not the issue. The underlying issue is attitude. The first two servants saw themselves as trusted and identified with the work of the Master. The third servant saw himself as a potential victim of the Master's power and tried to protect himself by not losing instead of gaining. The negative and fearful attitude resulted in disaster.
The parables in chapters 24 and 25 of the Gospel According to Matthew are meant to motivate Christians to live today with an eye to the long term and not be afraid of risk. One wonders if the Master was giving the third servant a "last chance" to prove himself worthy of trust. The larger amounts clearly indicate the two first servants were considered trustworthy. But the Master did take a risk, just as they did.
We are not meant to live in fear of God. We are given responsibility from the outset at our baptism. The gifts we have received are meant to be used for good and not to be hoarded. If we join with God in the adventure of life instead of being afraid of God, we will be a lot better in the long term. AMEN