Alberic Jacovone OSB
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YEAR A
THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY - 13.11.05
Prov 31,10-13.19-20.30-31; 1 Thess 5,1-6; Mt 25,14-30
The ability to cope with disability
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stories about the end of time. Chapter 25 of Matthew closes the teaching section, it sums up Jesus’
ministry, giving a vision of how history will end & life in Heaven will
start. This week, take time & read prayerfully -in full- chapter 25: in it
Matthew places three famous parables, all 3 tightly locked-in together, all
dealing with Jesus’ teaching about our life-“in-between-”.As we live in between now & the end of time, 3
point are developed: what it is like (Bridesmaids’story) - what it takes
(Talents’ story) & what it means (Judgment story). Last Sunday, we
reflected on the 10 Bridesmaids, 5 of whom wise, & 5 foolish: the story
concluded with a dissonant warning: ‘Watch therefore, since you do not know
the day or hour, when the Son of man comes’. As we read, we ask: who is the
Bridegroom or Son of man (is he Jesus)? & what is the “day or hour” of
his coming (is it our death)?... Some answers are given in today’s story of
the Master (=Jesus?) who entrusts to his 3 slaves (=us?) huge sums of money: 5,
2 & 1 talents, to trade for him while he went to live abroad: a ‘talent’
was a huge sum, namely the equivalent of 20 years of wages!... The story of the
talents concludes with more questions than answers: who is the Master who left
the country? & what’s the meaning of ‘long time’ (=our life)? & of
‘settling accounts’ (=judgment)?
And these questions are finally dealt with in the story of Judgment Day,
(we will read it next Sunday). In Matthew 25,
we find that the ‘Son of man’ is Jesus himself, who in turn is King
of glory, will some to judge the living & the dead; and will also give the
grounds on which sentence will be given: ‘what you did to the least of my
brothers (& sisters), you did to me’.
What
it takes to live ‘in-between’. In today’s parable, we find it hard to understand why the Master
(=Jesus?) would entrust to his slaves (=us in the Church?) talents &
abilities, spiritual gifts & responsibilities, & then would go to live
abroad. Some authors said that the first slave represents the Jews, who received
the five Books of Torah (=Pentateuch), & by becoming Christians doubled
their talents; the second slave will be the Gentile converts who will add good
works to faith, whereas the fearful slave who buried his Lord’s money are
those who restrict their activities & abilities to earthly & carnal
things. In reality however, this parable is the proof-text for stewardship in
Church, family & society. The point is: the gifts we have are God-given: we
have an obligation to develop & expand them, & use them well in support
of those who can’t help themselves. On Judgment Day, we will be assessed on
our ability & responsibility towards the poor, hungry, oppressed ‘little
ones’ of the world. Rightly, Western Society has shifted the meaning of
‘talent’ from a weight in money to an individual gift or ability which is
God-given & must be used profitably. In our culture, we warn those who
neglect to develop their natural abilities & skills. As we look in our
private life, in our family & in our Church it’s not difficult to find
outstanding ‘talented people’, from late John Paul II to the least believer.
Every age has had its gifted, able & responsible people, who did make good
use of their talents. But at the same time, we don’t have to go far to
discover in us & in others a range of disabilities, dysfunctional &
destructive forces. So, don’t keep your God-given abilities ‘just for
you’. Make good use of them, helping those who can’t help themselves. Live a
responsible life. Use wisely the ability to cope with disabilities in you &
in others; learn to deal compassionately with dysfunctional situations around you.
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