PRI Reflections on Scripture | Wednesday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

Finding God In Our Hearts with Msgr. Don Fischer

Gospel

Luke 19:11-28

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.

So he said,

“A nobleman went off to a distant country

to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return.

He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins

and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’

His fellow citizens, however, despised him

and sent a delegation after him to announce,

‘We do not want this man to be our king.’

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.

The first came forward and said,

‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’

He replied, ‘Well done, good servant!

You have been faithful in this very small matter;

take charge of ten cities.’

Then the second came and reported,

‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’

And to this servant too he said,

‘You, take charge of five cities.’

Then the other servant came and said,

‘Sir, here is your gold coin;

I kept it stored away in a handkerchief,

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.’

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;

why did you not put my money in a bank?

Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’

And to those standing by he said,

‘Take the gold coin from him

and give it to the servant who has ten.’

But they said to him,

‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’

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.

Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king,

bring them here and slay them before me.’”

After he had said this,

he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

Reflection

This parable holds a truth about the Kingdom of God. So many of the followers of Jesus, as they were working toward Jerusalem, thinking that this would be the day that Jesus would take over and run the world. And they didn't understand what was going to be asked of them. And when they were asked to die to themselves and to surrender themselves to God, it would be easy for them to be caught up in fear, which is what this story is about.

A man asked to do something, but out of fear of making a mistake, he won't do it. The Kingdom of God cannot be that way. We have to take risks. We have to imagine letting go of everything in order to find the fullness of truth.

That's at the heart of this story. Fear is a very dangerous thing to be caught up in if you want to live in the Kingdom of God.

Closing Prayer

Father, the greatest risk that we can take with you is a misunderstanding the promise you make. For anyone who gives up what seems to be their life, they'll find something a hundred times more effective, a hundred times more life giving. Keep us in this position of always trusting in whatever you ask us to let go of is always something that robs us of life. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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