Homily for the Week of November 16, 2008

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), Nov. 13, 2008
Readings: Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Ps 128:1-5; 1 Thes 5:1-6; Mt 25:14-30

One is amazed by the results of an Internet search for the phrase use it or lose it. The listing is over half a million references. A good portion of this listing deals with issues like free speech, brain function, memory, sports, and muscle tone, to name but a few.

If a person you had met socially, but really did not know very well, came to you and insisted that you keep $10,000 for him or her until the person returned from a year’s trip around the world, what would you do with the money?

If you accepted the money there are a variety of choices. You could go to a bank and put the money in a savings account; you could lock it up in a safety deposit box or hide it somewhere in the house, or carry it in your wallet or purse, or dig a hole and bury it. Whatever you did with the money would most likely be based on your opinion of the person who put you in charge of the money, as well as the person’s intentions.

If you judged the person to be generous, you might choose a more risky type of investment; but if you thought the person was harsh and demanding you would place it where you would not lose it.

Today Jesus tells us a similar story. A man went away on a journey. He must have been very wealthy because he entrusted large portions of his money to three of his servants. The first two servants invested the money during the master's absence and it yielded great returns. The third servant, however, was fearful of investing. In either case, the servant buried the money he was given and returned the full amount to the master when he came home. The master was pleased with the investments of the first two servants, but was very upset with the third one. It is very clear that the one with the single talent was nor punished fo receiving less than the other two; rather he was punished because he buried what he had received from the master and didn’t put it to good use. To those who have much, much more will be given. To those who have little, even that little will be taken away.

The Master in this story is God. What is our image of God. Is God a demanding boss who threatens us into doing everything because we are afraid of him; or is he a kind boss who shares his wealth with those who believe, and praises them for taking a risk.

This story is less about money than about what happens at the end of our life. It is about gifts and giving gifts. Whatever is given to us by God -- whether it is money, or special abilities, or opportunities, are given, not to grow stale but to be increased. And the way that we are to be judged on that increase is not on how much we have kept for ourselves, or how important it might make us, but how much we have given away -- how well have we served one another. And serving is defined as how well we have helped those among us that have the least: the least money, the least natural abilities, the least opportunities, and least faith.

Notice that in this Bible story, it is the owner’s work that the servants are to do, his money that he hands over to them; and it is obvious that he expects them to do something with those funds.

God has given each one of us talents. Sometimes out of laziness or lack of ambition, or sometimes because we are afraid of failure or ridicule, we do not share our talents. The gospel today challenges us to take a risk and invest our gifts for the greater good of God's people. We do this ourselves as adults, but we must also try to help our children recognize their talents and use them in a productive way.

Just as we must expect much of ourselves, we must also expect much of others. Teachers and loving parents know this so very well. Teachers and parents who expect much from their children will receive much. Coaches who expect the best from each player, and players who expect the best from themselves will have a winning season. Our demands on others must be for their good, however, and not simply to highlight their failures or weaknesses.

What do we expect of ourselves, and what do we expect of those with whom we associate? At one time when a person said: I AM A CATHOLIC, everyone expected some special type of behavior from that person. Christianity has become a victim of its own success. In becoming part of the MAINSTREAM it has lost some of its power to rouse us to action.

It has been said that a person who wants to do something will find a way; a person who doesn’t will find an excuse. That seems to be the evident in the third servant as he gives out his excuses. Jesus tells us that there is no excuse for us if we take for granted the gifts of life and religion which we have been given. Our Catholic faith is a treasure, but it is not meant to be buried and guarded. Knowing the worth of what we have is a first step. We must then invest this treasure in such a way as to bring us dividends. Do we live our religion in such a way that others might want to join us?

Fear was the problem of the bad servant. Being afraid is so very often our spiritual problem also, and it is the reason why we selfishly cling to our God given time, our abilities and our treasure. We are afraid that when we invest these gifts in the service of God and each other we will soon be bankrupt. We are afraid to trust Jesus who continually challenges us to generosity. That generosity might be in seen by love, by patience, by joy, by concern for those who are made fun of.

So that is why we must be here today, that is why we must say some prayers every day, that is why we must try to be good when it is so easy to do something we know is wrong. God is not a demanding master. God plants in each of us seeds of holiness in our hearts and helps us to grow to maturity.

What is the result of all of this? It is personal peace and freedom from anxiety and pain each day, and then a place with God at the end of our life. And more importantly, we will have that feeling of happiness each day because in our own way we fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, welcomed the stranger, clothed the naked, comforted the sick, and visited those in prison.

Today we are invited to use our God-given gifts. If we don’t we will lose them.