Reflection
Today’s Gospel is Luke’s version of Matthew’s parable of the talents, which we just heard this past Sunday. Luke’s version is renamed here as the parable of the ten gold coins (or in some translations ten pounds). In this version, we hear one additional element that enhances the message, and our relationship with God. Think of today’s parable in terms of seeking our just kingship in Christ, since we are called to be priests, prophets, and kings through our Baptism.
The parable reveals something important about how God works his plan and purpose with his people. The parable speaks first of the soon to be king's trust in his subjects. He goes away he leaves them with his money to use as they think best. While there were no strings attached, this was obviously a test to see if the Master's workers would be industrious and reliable in their use of the money entrusted to them.
The Lord trusts us with gifts and graces He gives us. He gives us the freedom to use our gifts as we think best. With each gift and talent, God gives us the grace and wisdom for using them productively, to increase His Kingdom. But God is saddened by indifference and an attitude that says it's not worth trying. Those who are faithful with even a little are entrusted with more! But those who neglect or squander what God has entrusted to them will lose what they have been given.
But here’s the added twist. Luke adds the following, “His fellow citizens, however, despised him
and sent a delegation after him to announce, 'We do not want this man to be our king.'” There are people who reject God as their King, who don’t want to acknowledge that He even exists. As we seek to receive our baptismal kingship in Christ and serve others for the Lord, we too will be rejected by those who are only interested in storing up wealth and having power over others. But our Lord promises that if we use what He gives us by giving it away in service to others, we will receive even more gifts in the future.
The world wants us to believe that wealth is achieved by accumulating and keeping what we receive in this world. Our Lord promises that by giving what we have in service to others, we will receive even more riches in this life. Our worldly wealth will be taken away when we die. However, our Lord promises that the worldly riches we have today are as nothing compared to the riches we receive when we spend eternity with Him after we die. God loves and trusts us to use what He gives us. Which path will we take?
Let’s give away our lives in service to others while we live, so that we can receive the eternal riches the Lord has promised when we die.
Today’s Question for Prayer and Reflection
Do you trust in God's grace and promises to make good use of the gifts and talents he has given you?