Sunday Reflections
33 Sunday year A
Your work is your salvation
✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 25:14-15,19-21
1. Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of Heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out.
‘Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.”’
‘His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”
‘Next the man with the two talents came forward. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”
‘Last came forward the man who had the one talent. “Sir,” said he “I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered; so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back.” But his master answered him, “You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have recovered my capital with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the five talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away. As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”’
2. Today’s readings focus on the necessity of conscientiously doing our work while waiting for the return of the Master whose coming will be sudden and unannounced. Jesus used the parable of the talent to illustrate this point. A master gave big amonut money to three of his servant,( a talent is an equivalent of 6000 days salary of an ordinary worker) to each according to his capacity. He left them for a long time to do business with the money. When he came back he demanded for account from each of the three servants.
3. An analysis of the parable will reveal two aspects: positive and negative. Positively, God has given each of his children enough graces and opportunities to be used in becoming better and making the world a better place. He has confidence in each of his children and has left each one enough time and freedom to use what he/ she has received. God is not a policeman running behind people to make sure they do the right thing. God expects each person to work and grow freely through working. One understands Paul when he says that whoever does not work must not be allowed to eat.(2thes3:10). It is through our work that we give God the opportunity to admit us into his joy. Our work is our means of completing our salvation.
4. On the negative side, it has to be noted that God, who is generous in giving his gifts to his children will one day ask them for account. He will judge each according to the opportunities that he/ she has had in life. The text equally showed that sin is not only doing what is evil. It is also omitting to do what is good. The servant who buried his talent may feel that he has not done any evil but he knows that he failed to do good. That was why he began his presentation by accusing the master and trying to justify himself. By taking the talent from him and punishing him the master shows that whoever deliberately refuses to work or use his God given opportunities for good is truly good for nothing. It is an invitation for everyone to diligently work until the Master comes.
6. The first reading ( Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31)
dramatized this by singing the praises of a good woman who works and supports the husband. It praises not the beautiful lady but the wise one who works to build her family up. Today most women are working. Some have even replaced their husbands in carrying the burden of the family. Such women are like the servants who used their talents to do business. They are on the road to zion. There are also some women who work but refuse to support their husbands. Their money is for their personal needs and that of their parent’s family and for vanities. For such women, it is a taboo to give their support in paying school fees or other family expenses. Such people are in the same group with the servant who buried his talent. They should not be surprise to hear God describe them as good for nothing like the lazy servant.
6. God has given you life and opportunities to make your life better and build a better world. Be sure not to be among those who do not want to take risk with their talent. He who risks nothing gains nothing. Make sure none of your talents is buried. Avoid doing evil but do not omit doing.
