Reflection: Luke 19:11-28

Wednesday of the 33rd Week of Ordinary Time – Luke 19:11-28

In today’s Gospel, the people who were gathered around Jesus believed that the Kingdom of God might appear at any moment.  Jesus tells his listeners another story.  He said: “A nobleman went off to a distant country.”  The man’s plan was to obtain the kingship for himself and then return to his home.  As he was preparing to leave on his journey, he called in ten of his servants and gave each servant ten gold coins.  He instructed them to trade with the gold coins until he returned. 

When the nobleman returned home, he called in the ten servants and questioned them.   Each servant reported to the nobleman the profit they had earned with their coins.  The first servant had earned ten additional coins.  Naturally, the master was very pleased.  He rewarded the servant by putting him in charge of ten cities.  Then the second servant stepped forward and told his master:  “Your gold coin has earned five more gold coins.”  The nobleman also was pleased with this servant and put him in charge of five cities. 

Finally, the third servant stepped forward and said: “Sir, I am returning your gold coin.  I know you are a demanding master so I stored your coin in a safe place.  I guarded it closely.  Now I am returning the coin to you.”  The master was irate!  He said to the servant: “You know I am demanding.  Why didn’t you put my money in a bank?  At least then, I would have received some interest on my money!”  Then the master took the gold coin from the servant and gave it to the servant that had ten coins.”  Then the master said: “To everyone who has, more will be given.  However, from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

What is the message for us in today’s Gospel?  One day we also will stand before Jesus.  And he will ask us: How have you used the many “talents” I gave to you?  Did you share your “talents” with others?  Or did you hide them or put them in layaway?  Or did you hold onto them for a rainy day?  Jesus has given us our talents and abilities to use every day of our lives.  He did not give us these talents for our benefit!  Rather, he has given us our talents and abilities to make the world a better and more loving place.

Today, if you or I die and we stand before Jesus, would he praise us?  Or would he reprimand us as he did his servants?  Today look for opportunities to share the many gifts God has given to you.   Your talents and your presence may brighten the day of a friend, family member or a stranger.  And in the process, you may realize that they also blessed you!