THE CUSTODIANS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

First Reading: Prov 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
Second Reading: 1 Thes 5:1-6
Gospel: Mt 25:14-30

We are in the thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. A week is left before we close this liturgical year. It is not a matter how we have begun a day or a year but how we complete it. It was very true with Jesus. The culmination of His earthly life on Calvary was the pivotal point in the history of salvation. Today’s Gospel, the parable of talents is all about who we conclude our life with all that we are endowed with. All of us have to give account for what we have received and what have we done with them. The master expects more from the rich and less from the poor. Hence, all are treated justly in accounting. Those who share the happiness of the master are not the people who had received much but people who have yielded something with what they had received. If one who received five talents in the parable were to fail in being productive surely the master would have punished him severely than the one who remained idle with one talent. Now let us enter into the deep mystery that lies behind this wonderful parable.     

Human beings are unique. No one is a perfect photocopy of anyone who was before or who is now or who will be in the future. This is why at funerals we say that no one can replace the person who has passed away from this world. Each one is endowed with particular capabilities and potentialities. The world is beautiful because of the combination of different creatures. Similarly, humanity becomes beautiful and enriching when there are differences in each human being. Thus, differences in human beings are neither a limitation nor a lacuna. They are essential for creativity and growth. In the Gospel, the master who is setting out on a long journey entrusts his property with few people according to each one’s ability and capabilities. Therefore, the difference in numbers of talents entrusted to them is not discrimination rather a justice. What if a person who has capacity to win a world cup for a country in international matches is given an opportunity only to play at national level matches. Will that not be discrimination to that person’s ability? Therefore, if we look from below, we may see the distribution of talents to each person as disproportionate.  On the contrary, if we look from above – from the place of master who knows strengthens and weaknesses of his workers – the distribution of talents would seem to be just. Now this is only a parable. Jesus uses this parable to communicate something important. Thus, what does Jesus mean by talents in the parable?

This parable is at the end of Matthew’s gospel. Jesus is almost closing His ministry and going to be away from this world. In His absence, the Kingdom of God – which he had inaugurated – His sole property needs some custodians who can oversee it. The master in the parable is Jesus Himself – the owner of the Church. The servants to whom the master entrusts the talents signify Apostles and disciples to whom Jesus is going to handover the responsibility of overseeing the Church. Hence, this parable is directly addressed to the apostles – the first bishops (overseers) of the Church – and to the disciples – the first Christians. In the Church, each one is given responsibility according to his/her state of life and positions. All need to use that responsibility with full commitment to achieve the common goal of building up the Kingdom of God on earth. In the parable, the one who received one talent does nothing with that money. The master harshly rebukes him for his idleness. The servant points out his fear towards the master as the reason for being idle with the talent. In the first reading, we hear about the characteristics of an ideal wife from the book of Proverbs. One of the important marks of good wife is the fear of God (Pro 31:30). Beauty and charm do not make a woman a good wife rather only the fear of God. Wisdom, knowledge and understanding are necessary for a house woman to build a happy family. All these gifts emanate from the fear of God (Prov 1:7; 9:10). If so, the servant in the parable who claims to have fear of the master should have gained sufficient wisdom, knowledge and understanding with regard to what to do with the received talent. None of the three who received the talents got the command to be productive or an order to remain idle. The first verse of the Gospel states that the master who is going for a long journey entrusts his possessions to his servants... (Mt 25:14). Thus, the servants are to take care of the master’s possessions in his absence. They had to do what the master would do if he were to present in person. The first two servants have understood their responsibility well and act accordingly. The third servant fails to understand his role in the kingdom of the master. He has fear that misfortune may come on his way that would entail the wrath of his master on him. However, he has no concern that his master’s property is remaining idle or not attaining any growth. The ideal wife fears God not that she may be punished by God if she does not do so. She fears God that she may be wound God if she does not do the work that is entrusted to her. She feels that his love for God may be disturbed if she does not carry out the will of God in her life. So, Fear is not about being rejected by someone but about offending someone whom s/he loves. The first two servants love their master and value the property of the master. Hence, they do the necessary thing. The third servant has no love for his master. All that he wants is that he be at the safer side. Love moves the person to act. Idleness is an opposite of Love. Therefore, an idle person is selfish who has no virtue to share and care for. In this line, the fear of God in the bible is fear of losing God by not doing His will.

As we are nearing the end of the liturgical year it’s a good time to take stock of what have we done for the building of the Kingdom of God with our capabilities and potentialities. Both clergy and laity have their role to play. As per the state of life, situations and uniqueness we are given a grace to do our part. As a priest have I saved some souls in this year? As a religious have I exemplified holiness of God to others this year? As a family wo/man have I passed on the faith to my children?... we can go on adding according to one’s life situations and positions. Let us take a review of our Christian life before we end this liturgical year. May we recognize our roles and positions in the Church and do the necessary. May God bless you all!  

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