WHAT CAN WE ASK OURSELVES ABOUT THIS PARABLE OF JESUS?

Jesus tells us the parable about the three servants and the talents - Gospel of Matthew 25:14-30

·        Is this just a “Master/Servant” story that would have taken place in the time of Jesus?

·        Why didn’t the Master tell his servants what to do with the talents he gave them?

·        What did the servants think that they were supposed to do these  talents that were given to them?

·        Why did the third servant not do what the other servants did with their talents?

WHAT DOES THIS STORY OF THREE SERVANTS HAVE TO DO WITH YOU AND ME?

IS GOD YOUR BROKER?

Like a good broker does God act in your the best interest?

Like a good broker does God generate for you Positive Life returns? 

Like a good broker does God provide grace according to your need for forgiveness and healing? 

WHAT IS IT, IF ANYTHING, HAVE WE BEEN GIVEN?

The mission of Jesus is today as it was then is: 

·        to heal the contrite heart,

·        to gather all sinners to himself,

·        and to intercede for us to the Father.

We the “servants” have been given Sacraments that specifically address the Mission of Jesus, the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation.

EUCHARIST – 

Where we become renewed in the life of our savior.

Where we become one and inseparable with the divinity of Jesus Christ. 

“By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” 

This is the sacrament we participate regularly in praise and thanksgiving.

RECONCILIATION – 

       This is where we reach the fulfillment of Jesus’ ministry.

       This is where we receive the grace of forgiveness and healing.

       For many Catholics this is the one sacrament that can be the toughest to come to, creating unnecessary anxiety, pain and fear. 

Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, Be on your guard! Luke 17:1

Some have said: “I confess my sins to God; I don’t need to confess them to another man. It’s just between me and God.”

      

First of all, you don’t confess your sins to “another man” – the Priest is the essence, the presence, the embodiment of Jesus Christ.

Secondly, The “talents” spoken of in today’s Gospel could be compare to the grace received in Sacrament of Reconciliation, the grace of Forgiveness and grace of Healing; two graces in one sacrament.

When the priest, in the person of Jesus Christ, pronounces the words of absolution by saying: “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit” he proclaims the forgiveness and healing that comes from the mercy of the Father and the Holy Spirit and through the Church.

You cannot cause this grace of forgiveness and healing by yourself, any more then you could cause, by yourself, the transubstantiation of your own bottle of wine and loaf of bread into the living Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

Many are missing the blessed opportunity to allow this grace of this Sacrament of Reconciliation to bring forgiveness and healing into their lives.

WAS JESUS ALSO A SINNER?

2 Corinthians, chapter 5:21 For our sake God made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the worthy of God in him.

Even though God created humans he never lived the human experience. When God took on the human form through Jesus, he subjected himself to all the pains of human life – even our tendency to fail. As Paul wrote: ”he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” PHILIPPIANS 2:7-8

Then there was the time Jesus 'ditched" his parents  . . .

 

Jesus did have a “learning” period of obedience as probably with other things.

Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. They returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple. When his parents saw him, his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” He then returned to Nazareth with them, and was obedient to them. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

The writer of Hebrews affirmed that “we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without Sin” (Heb. 4:15-16)

While grew in age and wisdom – and certainly had issues of human behaviors – he never rejected the Father.

So let us confidently approach Sacrament of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.  

Let us make certain that we like the two servants, wisely make use of the “talents/gifts” God has given each of us – and not imitate the third servant that was paralyzed in fear of the Master.

LET US PRAY

O Lord, be to us a source of Light, Strength and Courage so that we will profitably use the graces you give to receive your forgiveness and healing. Amen.