Matthew 25:14-30
Dear Friends, Today’s Gospel puts the focus on the end of time for both the Church Year and, more importantly, it highlights fact that our world, personal and communal, will come to an end sooner than later. The gift of life expressed in our time, talent and treasure needs to cherished. It also needs to be developed and used responsibly as we face the relentless clock that moves us to the conclusion of our earthly journey. This trustworthy action is our way into the Mystery. There is nothing in life more important for us.
The simple and clear truth of the Gospel passages of the last two weeks is the daily challenge of our mortality. This means we have only the present moment to live! The past and the future are beyond our control. This is an overwhelming truth that we can grasp only in a minimal fashion. The saints are the ones who really get what it means to be mortal. Yet, each year the Church offers us a reminder at the end of the liturgical year that this life will come to an end. The more we are aware of it, the more we are able to direct our lives to our final destiny.
The message for us in today’s Gospel is clear: to realize that God is calling us to use our time, talent and treasure in harmony with the coming kingdom of God. Our call is to create and support life in all of its various manifestations. This is seamless garment of life, from the womb to the tomb. We are invited to enter into and embrace the Gospel message of Jesus by always discovering new horizons of inclusion and acceptance and celebration. Our fundamental human task is to let reality open up the hidden presence of our loving God in all the wide-ranging expressions of humanity.
The image of God is a central driving force in the story of the three servants in today’s parable. For the first two, even though they differ quite a bit in personal talents, God was seen as a generous and loving benefactor. They see God calling them to life in every way possible. The invitation to responsible living was rooted in God’s merciful love.
For the third servant, fear was the consequence of an image of God as a harsh and demanding judge. This image relegated his world to a minimum of generosity and a maximum of evasion of any mistake. Love was just not a factor.
We have to move beyond the “dos and don’ts” of religion. The third servant operated out of a narrow and negligeable investment of time, talent and treasure. He sees a “go to mass on Sunday” as a nominal effort to satisfy a harsh and demanding judge who holds out the threat of eternal punishment. He puts God on the fringe of life, a necessary but onerous obligation.
We need an image of God where love and mercy liberate and enrich us. We are empowered to advance in confidence with the gifts of our time, talent and treasure. God is calling us to share in the creation of his kingdom by walking with Jesus.
The simple and clear truth of the Gospel passages of the last two weeks is the daily challenge of our mortality. This means we have only the present moment to live! The past and the future are beyond our control. This is an overwhelming truth that we can grasp only in a minimal fashion. The saints are the ones who really get what it means to be mortal. Yet, each year the Church offers us a reminder at the end of the liturgical year that this life will come to an end. The more we are aware of it, the more we are able to direct our lives to our final destiny.
The message for us in today’s Gospel is clear: to realize that God is calling us to use our time, talent and treasure in harmony with the coming kingdom of God. Our call is to create and support life in all of its various manifestations. This is seamless garment of life, from the womb to the tomb. We are invited to enter into and embrace the Gospel message of Jesus by always discovering new horizons of inclusion and acceptance and celebration. Our fundamental human task is to let reality open up the hidden presence of our loving God in all the wide-ranging expressions of humanity.
The image of God is a central driving force in the story of the three servants in today’s parable. For the first two, even though they differ quite a bit in personal talents, God was seen as a generous and loving benefactor. They see God calling them to life in every way possible. The invitation to responsible living was rooted in God’s merciful love.
For the third servant, fear was the consequence of an image of God as a harsh and demanding judge. This image relegated his world to a minimum of generosity and a maximum of evasion of any mistake. Love was just not a factor.
We have to move beyond the “dos and don’ts” of religion. The third servant operated out of a narrow and negligeable investment of time, talent and treasure. He sees a “go to mass on Sunday” as a nominal effort to satisfy a harsh and demanding judge who holds out the threat of eternal punishment. He puts God on the fringe of life, a necessary but onerous obligation.
We need an image of God where love and mercy liberate and enrich us. We are empowered to advance in confidence with the gifts of our time, talent and treasure. God is calling us to share in the creation of his kingdom by walking with Jesus.
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