33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time A
Matthew 25:14-30
The first reading describes a gracious wife and a mother, faithfully dedicated to her maternal commitment. She practiced fidelity with responsibility in the marital setting of her time and culture. The good mother who is a responsible steward will be praised by the husband and pleasing in the eyes of the Lord.
The second reading, Paul continues his reply to the Thessalonians about the Parousia (the final coming of Christ). Stay sober and alert for we do not know when will God come to us. Let us be prepared, always ready to welcome the Lord in our heart and in our life. As responsible steward let us ask for the grace of openness to welcome God anytime and at anyplace in our life.
Today’s gospel makes it very clear that far more is expected of us. This parable is more than an exhortation to use well our qualities. It is about the Kingdom, which is entrusted to us as the Master leaves for a long journey. When he returns, he expects his servants to have put to work the riches he had entrusted to them. The first two risked and doubled what they had been given. They were praised for their commitment to their master, to the Kingdom. The third servant, who was afraid of the master, lost even the one talent he had.
We are expected to make an active and positive contribution to the work of the Kingdom and to the Christian community as the Body of Christ. In practice, that might mean taking an active part in our Church, in our parish, volunteering for social justice initiatives etc. In this trying times, we can hear and see the news about those people who needs help as they struggle in life, we can perhaps ask, do I acknowledge my talents to help others? What have I done to be called as responsible steward of God’s gifts or talents?
Finally, a talent is everything that makes the community grow and which reveals the presence of God. When one is closed in oneself out of fear of losing the little that one has, one loses even that little that one has, because love dies, justices is weakened, sharing disappears. Instead, the person who does not think in self and gives himself to others, grows and, surprisingly, receives everything which he has given and much more. “Because anyone who finds his life will lose it, but anyone who loses his own life for my sake will find it.” (Mt 10:39) The more you give, the more you received.
Take heart to share your talents and gifts to the Church.
