33rd Sunday Ordinary Time
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Cycle A
- A189: It doesn't seem fair that the fearful man who did not invest his Master's money, would have it all taken away and be punished. Is this a case of the "rich getting richer"?
- Caught Off-Guard
- Q345: Why was that unfortunate man in the gospel today [Matt 25:14-30] treated so badly for preserving the one talent with which he had been entrusted?
- Q502: In today’s financial crisis, would not the third servant in the Gospel (Matt 25:14-15, 19-20) be the one to be rewarded for his prudence, because he preserved his bag of money from loss?
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A189: It doesn't seem fair that the fearful man who did not invest his Master's money, would have it all taken away and be punished. Is this a case of the "rich getting richer"?
First of all, keep in mind that November is a time when the Church turns the spotlight on our need to "be prepared" for the return of Jesus. Today's gospel (Matt. 25:14-30) is addressed to Jewish Christians, and Jesus tells a parable about what to do to prepare for his return. While he is gone, it will be the responsibility of his disciples to carry on his work of preaching the kingdom of God. Some will excel in this work; others will do so-so, but at least they will try; still others will be lazy and not carry out their responsibility to evangelize and witness their faith. This is the "investment language" in the parable. The one who does the best will be given even more graces to carry on God's work. The one who doesn't even try to live out his faith, ignoring the desires of Jesus, will be treated as he or she deserves, because our God of mercy is also a God of justice.
This is a story about Faith, and the way we live it. Some will hear the Master's call to every Christian to serve, and they will try their best to spread the Good News about God's mercy and love. Others will either abandon their mission or become lax in assuming their Christian responsibilities, or even be totally indifferent. Either way, there will be an accounting when the Master returns! Where is our focus: on this world, or on the next? On God, or on Mammon?
Know Your Catechism! Are you truly aware of what the "duties" of a faith-filled life entail? Our Catechism teaches us that we are called to persevere in faith and constantly nourish it (#162 and #2087). To neglect revealed truth or willfully refuse to assent to it is a sin against the First Commandment (#2089). The following are fundamental duties: every disciple must keep the faith, live on it, profess it, bear witness to it, and spread it; in fact, this is all necessary for salvation (#1816)! Don't treat it lightly!
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In 79 AD, the volcano Vesuvius, which rises just off the Bay of Naples, Italy, erupted violently and totally destroyed Pompeii, a city of 20,000 population. Much of the city was excavated in the nineteenth century, but archeologists are still uncovering certain neighborhoods. Sometimes the volcanic ash simply buried victims alive. Their bones have long since turned to dust, but the ash in many cases formed a firm mold around them at the moment of death; and by filling the mold with plaster, the excavators can obtain perfect images of those who died in the anguish of the disaster.
In 1949 the archeologists reproduced a startling cast of one of the Pompeian victims. He lay facedown as if death had taken him completely unawares. In one hand was a small crowbar. In the other, clasped tight in his fist, were several gold coins. To all appearances he was a thief who had taken advantage of the confusion of others to break into a building and rob the owner. The gold had done him little good.
"... You are not in the dark, brothers, that the day should catch you off guard, like a thief." (1 Thessalonians, 5:4. Today's second reading).
-Father Robert F. McNamara ====
Q345: Why was that unfortunate man in the gospel today [Matt 25:14-30] treated so badly for preserving the one talent with which he had been entrusted?
This can be a disturbing story for some readers, because it might seem harsh that the servant was thrown into the darkness and called ‘useless,’ ‘wicked,’ and ‘lazy’ – when all he did was preserve the possession that the master entrusted to him. But keep in mind that it is a parable, meant here to criticize a behavior or non-behavior in the speaker’s audience.
Keep in mind the context of this parable. Just before this parable was the story last week of the five foolish virgins who ‘had no oil’ – and oil is a metaphor that refers to the way we do or do not live a virtuous life. Just after today’s parable is the story next week of the Last Judgment, where everyone will be judged based on the way they did or did not live a life of active justice. In other words, we are in a section of the Bible calling attention to the seriousness of our stewardship, of actively using the gifts God has given each of us to build up the Body of Christ.
The other two servants in today’s story, who were also given stewardship over certain amounts of money, became active and were instruments for bearing much fruit. The third servant, however, was not even willing to try. He claimed that he was too fearful to risk the chance of failure. So he simply became inactive, and the gift entrusted to him became worthless for bearing fruit, useless for helping others. He had chosen the “darkness,” where nothing can grow, when he had been called to be a child of the “light” [as St Paul says in the 2nd Reading today, 1 Thess 5:1-6] where everything grows. So because of that choice, he is sent into the darkness forever.
KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! Jesus calls for radical action to gain the kingdom, risking everything (CCC #546). One way to overcome selfishness is through charity (CCC #1931). We also learn virtue and overcome our complacency by educating our conscience (CCC #1784). Jesus’ parable says this to Matthew’s community: heirs of the kingdom are called to active stewardship.
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Q502: In today’s financial crisis, would not the third servant in the Gospel (Matt 25:14-15, 19-20) be the one to be rewarded for his prudence, because he preserved his bag of money from loss?
Today’s gospel is not about a person’s financial abilities in the stock market or foreign exchange markets. The story is a parable, pointing to something else. It blends in well with the message of the Second Reading (1 Thess 5:1-6), so I will treat them together.
First of all, St. Paul reminds us – in fact, he warns us – to always remain alert to the responsibilities of true discipleship, true Christianity. Every Christian knows that Jesus is returning, and that means we don’t want to be caught unprepared. So St. Paul uses vivid imagery, showing how we can never predict the arrival of a thief at night; also, a pregnant woman can never pinpoint the exact moment in the future when labor pains will begin. If it is important to be responsible and prepare for such unforeseen but significant moments of time, how much more responsible must we be in preparing to meet Jesus when he comes again?
The Gospel parable parallels that message. If we only realized what wonderful gifts, real treasures that the Lord has given to us at our Baptism and Confirmation, and in the Holy Eucharist! We are not called simply to “believe” that Jesus is Lord. We are also called to carry on his mission of love and forgiveness, using the physical and spiritual gifts we have received to make that happen. Did you bury your “treasure,” and thereby neutralize and render impotent the gifts you were given to build up our Christian community? Did you bury your “Faith” in laziness and non-involvement in the Christian mission? Have you ever asked another what their perception of your gifts are, and how you could use them for others?
KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! The second coming of Christ in glory could be accomplished at any moment (CCC 673). Christ is coming “like a thief”; exactly how are you preparing your heart to be vigilant at all times (CCC #2849)?
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