Saturday, Aug. 27 meditation. Lectionary # 430

Scripture: Lectionary # 430: I Thessalonians 4:9-12. Psalm 98:1.7-8.9. Matthew 25:14-30.

Paul's letter now exhorts us to have mutual love for one another--the "agape" kind that Jesus speaks of in John's Gospel and that we find in the wonderful first epistle of John. Paul is very practical so he tells us to focus on our own responsibilities and to do them well. This will be a good example for our brothers and sisters rather than pointing out what we think they should do! Peace and joy result when we are content with the work and duties the Lord has entrusted to us.

We hear from Matthew for the last time this year of Matthew and will move into the Gospel of Luke with the social gospel challenge that will be given to us from Jesus' first sermon in a synagogue. But, before leaving us, Matthew, as is his wont, gives us another parable. This time it is the parable of the talents and it progresses in the usual Semitic fashion of three steps seen in the ones who receive the talents. We are encouraged to be like the first two servants and to avoid the inactive servant represented in the third step. That is where the parable breaks down and gives us the lesson from Jesus for the day.

The parable shows us two faithful and industrious servants of the Lord or master who doles out talents with characteristic generosity of a good Lord or master. The increase gained by the first two servants show us that they were aware of the "signs of the times" that led them to gain double what they received. Naturally, they were rewarded even more abundantly by the master. The third was either lazy or did not know how to read the signs of his time and he "hid" his talent. Graces like goodness are to be diffused and used for the good of others. This rebounds to self when we recognize the surprises of grace and cooperate with them. We are to regard ourselves as faithful servants entrusted with the gifts and graces of God. By using them as creative agents of God's redeeming love seen in Jesus we are faithful and trustworthy servants.

Jesus is teaching us to be more than simply guardians of the graces and gifts received. We are to use them bountiously and creatively in order to reap their fruits. This does require courage, risk, awareness, and openness to the sudden surprising intervention of God in our lives. We must be awake and attentive to them when they appear. We do this by making the right decisions in our given call in life whether married or single and we are encouraged to help others with our giftedness. This builds up the Body of Christ the Church. The Church is all and each one of us.

Perhaps, this day calls us to renew our Confirmation when we again intensified with this sacrament the gifts we received at Baptism. The Holy Spirit makes us mature Christians who are responsible for one another and to one another. Let us not hide our talents and graces but use them for building up the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church. Amen.