I had a misunderstanding with a friend recently. The longer it remained unresolved, the longer we held on to our own false versions of the story. No wonder it took so long for us to make up.

Today’s Gospel presents a similar scenario with the third servant who had a distorted view of his king. The servant saw the king as a “hard man” so he hid the king’s money. But was this true? The preceding verses depicted a generous king, who rejoiced when his servants flourished with what he entrusted to them. This parable reveals how we tend to be a poor judge of others’ character. We define others based on what we see and believe and treat them accordingly. But it can keep us trapped in our flawed perception, leaving us isolated and empty-handed.

Jesus says this is not how His Kingdom works. He invites us to put aside our prejudices and try to see others as God sees them. Only then can we truly find abundance and share in His 

Joy. Tisha Alyssa Caro (caro.tisha@gmail.com)

reflect

When have you allowed a misunderstanding to cloud your perception of someone? Pray for them today.

Lord, help me see others as You see them and let go of any misunderstanding or judgment. Grant me a heart of compassion and grace toward those I have misjudged. Amen.

Saint Mechtildis, pray for us.

It is better to die and avoid sin than to embrace sin by choice. This is the example that the lives of the martyrs present to us. Their commitment to righteous living is inspirational. Let us pray that we will never have our faith put to such a severe test, as becoming a martyr is not an easy choice to make.

1 It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges by the king, to force them to eat pork in violation of God’s law. ²⁰ Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother, who saw her seven sons perish in a single day, yet bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord. ²¹ Filled with a noble spirit that stirred her womanly heart with manly courage, she exhorted each of them in the language of their ancestors with these words: ²² “I do not know how you came into existence in my womb; it was not I who gave you the breath of life, nor was it I who set in order the elements of which each of you is composed. ²³ Therefore, since it is the Creator of the universe who shapes each man’s beginning, as he brings about the origin of everything, he, in his mercy, will give you back both breath and life, because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law.” ²⁴ Antiochus, suspecting insult in her words, thought he was being ridiculed. As the youngest brother was still alive, the king appealed to him, not with mere words, but with promises on oath, to make him rich and happy if he would abandon his ancestral customs: he would make him his Friend and entrust him with high office. ²⁵ When the youth paid no attention to him at all, the king appealed to the mother, urging her to advise her boy to save his life. ²⁶ After he had urged her for a long time, she went through the motions of persuading her son. ²⁷ In derision of the cruel tyrant, she leaned over close to her son and said in their native language: “Son, have pity on me, who carried you in my womb for nine months, nursed you for three years, brought you up, educated and supported you to your present age. ²⁸ I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth and see all that is in them; then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things; and in the same way the human race came into existence. ²⁹ Do not be afraid of this executioner, but be worthy of your brothers and accept death, so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with them.” 30 She had scarcely finished speaking when the youth said: “What are you waiting for? I will not obey the king’s command. I obey the command of the law given to our fathers through Moses. ³¹ But you, who have contrived every kind of affliction for the Hebrews, will not escape the hands of God.”

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15

R: Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.

¹ Hear, O Lord, a just suit; attend to my outcry; hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit. (R) ⁵ My steps have been steadfast in your paths, my feet have not faltered. ⁶ I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my word. (R) ⁸ Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. ¹⁵ But I in justice shall behold your face; on waking, I shall be content in your presence. (R)

Gospel | Luke 19:11-28

The more we accept and use God’s blessings, the more blessings we discover. This is the message of today’s parable. Jesus says that those who have many will be given more, and those who have few will lose even the little they have. When the blessings of God in our lives are few, it is likely that we are not using the ones we have. That is why God takes them and gives them to someone else. We are not using them anyway.

Gospel Acclamation

I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.

¹¹ While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. ¹² So he said, “A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. ¹³ He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ ¹⁴ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ ¹⁵ But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. ¹⁶ The first came forward and said, ‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’ ¹⁷ He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’ ¹⁸ Then the second came and reported, ‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’ ¹⁹ And to this servant too he said, ‘You, take charge of five cities.’ ²⁰ Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, ²¹ for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’ ²² He said to him, ‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; ²³ why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’ ²⁴ And to those standing by he said, ‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ ²⁵ But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ ²⁶ He replied, ‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ²⁷ Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.’” ²⁸ After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

Reflect:

What are the blessings, gifts, and talents God has given you? 

How are you using them to serve Him and others?

Read the Bible in one year! Read PSALMS 76 - 80 today.

The third servant in the parable fears his master very much. He is afraid that his master would punish him if he not only fails to gain any interest but, worse, loses the whole amount entrusted to him. However, unless he takes some risks, he will not make any profit. Thus, he did nothing evil by hiding his master’s money in a linen for safety, but by doing so, he likewise did nothing good with what was entrusted to him.

In the same way, fear is our greatest enemy in living life to the full. Fear will bring upon us our own perdition if we allow it to rule our lives. Fear harms us, paralyzes us, and kills us.

What is the antidote to fear? Love is the antidote to fear. Saint Paul wrote, “Perfect love drives away all fears.” When we love somebody, we are not afraid to risk everything, including life, for the person. When we are assured that the other loves us, we are not afraid to risk as well. Taking risks is inevitably essential to loving. And love is the antidote to fear.

The king in the parable today appears to be an unlovable and unloving person. That is the main difficulty of the third servant. He is ruled by fear of his master because he has little love for him and, apparently, vice versa. The king in the parable today obviously does not stand for God. Parables are not meant to make direct analogies.

God is ever lovable and loving. So, why be afraid of Him? Risk!

Fr. Toto Cerada, SDB

Reflection questions

What are your fears in life? How can you overcome them?

Dear Lord, help me to love more so I may overcome my fears. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________________