MY daily reflection and prayer:
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Luke 19:11-28
While they were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said, “A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading.
The first came forward and said, ‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’ He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’ Then the second came and reported, ‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’ And to this servant too he said, ‘You, take charge of five cities.’ Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding person; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’
He said to him, ‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding person, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’ And to those standing by he said, ‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ ‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.'” After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
This is the most important thing we can take as a lesson from the Gospel today. Jesus Christ wants to teach us to be patient and persevering in using our talents God gives us to serve him and our neighbor. Jesus Christ is the King of kings who will ask our liability in using our talents.
As in today’s parable we receive his gifts and we have to invest it better. God has given all of us the gifts of faith, hope and love. It is up to us to make sure they are cultivated so that they will grow and bear fruit.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist, while adoring Jesus Christ we strive to cultivate the gifts of faith, hope and love God has given us all. We have much more to gain by using our gifts and talents for his Kingdom.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, we are sometimes afraid of cultivating the gifts and talents you have given us. We are afraid of what it means to die to ourselves. Help us to use all of our gifts and talents for your Kingdom to serve you and others now and forever. Amen.
