This is the last week of the Church’s liturgical year. This coming Sunday we celebrate the last Sunday of the year with the feast of Christ the King. Over this week and into the first weeks of Advent, the Word of God focuses on our Christian response to the end times – the end of all of creation or our personal ends.
On the road to Jerusalem, the disciples were expecting the reign of God to appear as the result of a political revolution or a direct action from God. But Jesus’ parable has a different outlook. Jesus speaks of how we will be judged. The servants judged as good were the ones who produced more from what they had whether it was a little or a lot. The servant who did nothing with what he had out of fear of a demanding nobleman is judged as wicked. Jesus uses parables throughout the Gospel to call us to action – to share and proclaim our faith.
The first reading gives us a bit of context for the Gospel parable. In John’s revelation the door to heaven is open and he is invited to enter. What a joy for John (and us) – the door is open! Inside he sees an expression of that joy – the inhabitants of heaven openly glorifying God, singing “Holy, Holy, Holy”. When fear is the only base of our relationship with God, we become paralytic. The gold coins in the parable are not just our economic resources. They are representative of our whole being and life, all that God has given us, especially our faith. With fear and inaction, there is no joy, no proclamation of our faith, and no multiplication of faith. Our faith is not an important personal treasure that we keep guarded away in our heart or soul. We are called to share and proclaim our faith publicly with others. Others need the goods, faith, and talents that God has given each of us and we need to share our goods, talents, and faith with others.
Image: https://redeeminggod.com/bible-theology-topics/luke-1911-27/.