33rd Week, Wednesday, Nov 17
2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31 / Luke 19:11-28
Seven brothers are martyred; Their mother exhorted them to persevere.
Parents still exercise the greatest influence over their
children-as we see in this Truman story and in today's reading.
***
Recall a time when your father or mother did something that
moved you deeply. “An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy.” Spanish
proverb
***
We hear the inspiring story of the mother and her seven sons
who with great courage preferred to die for their faith rather than to sin
against the Law.
***
Whenever we hear of the term "Judgement Day" just what are the feelings and thoughts that we get? It is certainly a day of reckoning, a time when we have to give an account of our lives, and only we ourselves know what kind of an account to give. Because out of our own mouths we will pronounce judgement on ourselves.
In the gospel parable, that was what the master told the servant who kept the pound and did nothing with it. Knowing what was expected and yet not bothering about it certainly calls for accountability and punishment. So what is expected of us? The 1st reading gives a terrible account of what it means to be faithful to God and to do what is expected of us.
We may not have to face that kind of physical torture and
torment when it comes to keeping faith in God. Yet in our trials and
temptations, we will surely face the spiritual torture and torment of the evil
one to sin and go against God. The evil one will also entice us with lies and
deception to take the soft and easy way and slowly walk into the blindness of
darkness.
Yes, we need to pray that the Lord will deliver us from evil and to grant us the grace to live a holy life so that we can sincerely give an account of our lives on Judgement Day.
***
Faith, the Gospel and the life of Christ are rich gifts
which we have received to work with, to produce with, to do business with, as
the Gospel says. We cannot just take our faith for granted. We are stewards of
the goods of the kingdom; a good steward does not only keep what the master
gives him or her, but invests it to produce more. One who has will be given more.
This is Luke’s presentation of the parable of the talents. How productive is
our faith?
***
Life is the greatest “pound (talent)” we have received.
Every faculty, every talent and every opportunity are “pounds” that we have
received and continue to receive in addition. These “pounds” are not our
property but something we need to be accountable for before the giver – God.
The parable of the pound teaches us to make maximum use of the gifts and
talents we have received to build up the kingdom of God. An attitude that says
“I don’t do any harm” is not a sign of a good Christian but it is imperative
that, “I do something good.” A Christian should have the courage to use his/
her God-given gifts. The more we make use of the given “pounds”, the more will
be given to us; the more creatively we use our ideas, the more creative we
become, because the gifts of God are never exhausted.
***
Prayer
Good and loving Father, you have made us rich in many ways, our
faith, the good news of the Gospel, your Son Jesus Christ, above all, with his
life and his Spirit, and the people around us. Help us grow in this faith and
this love, teach us to invest ourselves in your kingdom of goodness and hope, that
we may be worthy of your trust, by the power of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
