The wealth that really matters – freedom, security, happiness, and peace

Reading: He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. Luke 19:26.

Good morning, happy Wednesday, and many blessings my dear family.

In today’s Gospel (Luke 19:11-28), 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.

The slave with one pound acted out of fear. Is fear a large component of my life? How different would I want my life to be? Do I know where that fear comes from? Talk with Jesus about this.

How generous am I in the exercise of my gifts? How do I respond to praise? Am I embarrassed or awkward? Am I able to acknowledge my gift with gratitude to the ‘Giver’?

But the anticapitalistic Jesus’ Gospel says that it is not collecting but sharing that generates wealth, the wealth that really matters – freedom, security, and peace. Is this true for me?

Blessings,

Fr. Luis+