While the people were listening, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they imagined that the kingdom of God was going to show itself then and there. Accordingly he said, ‘A man of noble birth went to a distant country to be appointed king and afterwards return. He summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds. “Do business with these” he told them “until I get back.” But his compatriots detested him and sent a delegation to follow him with this message, “We do not want this man to be our king.”
Now on his return, having received his appointment as king, he sent for those servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made. The first came in and said, “Sir, your one pound has brought in ten.” “Well done, my good servant!” he replied “Since you have proved yourself faithful in a very small thing, you shall have the government of ten cities..” Then came the second and said, “Sir, your one pound has made five.” To this one also he said, “And you shall be in charge of five cities.” Next came the other and said, “Sir, here is your pound. I put it away safely in a piece of linen because I was afraid of you; for you are an exacting man: you pick up what you have not put down and reap what you have not sown.” “You wicked servant!” he said “Out of your own mouth I condemn you. So you knew I was an exacting man, picking up what I have not put down and reaping what I have not sown? Then why did you not put my money in the bank? On my return I could have drawn it out with interest.” And he said to those standing by, “Take the pound from him and give it to the man who has ten pounds.” And they said to him, “But, sir, he has ten pounds . . .” “I tell you, to everyone who has will be given more; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
“But as for my enemies who did not want me for their king, bring them here and execute them in my presence.”’
When he had said this he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
REFLECTION: Jesus in our gospel today, is on his way to Jerusalem. The people who have been following him were thinking that the coming of the Kingdom of God would happen there.
But Jesus corrects their assumption. He is sort of saying, “You should not be so preoccupied with the coming of the Kingdom, rather you should be preparing yourselves, examining your life, if you are really worthy and ready when the Kingdom of God comes.
Each one of us has been given a particular gift or talent that we are expected to use, develop, nurture, invest, and share for the growth of kingdom. In the end God will ask us an account of this.
St Elizabeth of Hungary whose memorial we celebrate today, has invested all her time, talents and treasures to please God by helping the poor and the sick in her time.
Today, we can see around us all kinds of poverty and social illness. Our gospel today challenges us to invest our gifts and to share our resources to others, but it’s not only as simple that, we have to do it with LOVE as the main motive, not to show off, not because we are obliged to, but because WE love. In the end of our life, St John of the Cross says, “we will be judged in LOVE.”
SO today let us ponder on these things:
1. What are the gifts and talents that God gave me?
2. Am I using these gifts with love and hope for the growth of the kingdom of God or am I just using them to my own satisfaction?
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