Investing it all
The 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
November 19, 2023
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Proverbs 31:10-31; Psalm 128; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30
This parable’s point is fairly easy to figure out because it deals with our levels of responsibility and the proper use of our gifts. It all makes sense and is straightforward, but Jesus would not have included it if it was all that simple. He is, of course, speaking about our commitment to God because everything that Jesus spoke about concerned the reign of God and Israel’s full and total commitment to it. He realized that many Jews were in favor of his teachings, but were not fully invested in it; Matthew, writing in times of impending persecutions, asked the Christian community if they were in it for the long haul despite the turbulence they would face on the horizon.
How well have we used our gifts, and are there times when we have stopped ourselves from developing them? It is quite a natural tendency to do. I usually do not tell stories about myself because I want to keep the focus upon God’s reign but I want to illustrate how we can bury our talents and let them atrophy.
As a boy of 11 or 12, I used to draw and sketch a lot, just like my older brother did. He took art classes and I worked on my own. One September, I wanted to be serious about drawing, so I sketched a football player on the gridiron because he was drawing them as well. I thought the perspective was off, so I asked him for advice, and he replied, “The legs are too short.” I took this as a message that I would not be a good artist like my brother, and that I should cede the artistic world to him because he was the one God gifted with this talent.
Decades later, when I was in the Kingdom of Jordan as Pastor of the Church, I was prompted to take my first art class. My instructor was encouraging and surprised, and we prompted me to do more and more work. When I returned to the States, I showed my mother some of my work and she said, “I always thought you had great talent, but one day you stopped. Your brother’s work was good, but when he drew, he always made the legs too short.” When I heard this, I gasped. My brother advised as best he could, from what he knew, and I stopped using my talent because of a misperception that I brought upon myself. It was only decades later when I wanted to return to something that moved inside me for years, and it was life-sustaining.
All too often, we live out of beliefs or statements that we tell ourselves that we cannot do something or that it is too late, and when we do so, we are not just holding ourselves back, we are being irresponsible to God’s desires. We do not even know when, how, or why we hold ourselves back, and we have to pay attention to those daydreams and desires that we do not give enough value or importance to try. The failure to try is the sin. Creativity is God’s gift to us and using our creativity is our gift back to God. When we refuse to be creative and to develop our talents, that is an act of self-will and is counter to God’s designs for us. When we explore our creativity, we open ourselves to God.
The man in the parable who buried his talents out of fear was unwilling to try. He did not develop his talents and refused to do God’s will for himself. These are not solely our gifts and talents to develop; they belong to God. Jesus is showing us that the one who is finally called to account will have to show God how wisely he or she has invested in this gift. The person who meets God’s approval will be the one who approaches the Lord at the end of the age, stands before God will empty hands, and will humble say, “I have given you all I could. I have nothing left. I have used all the gifts you have given me as fully as possible. I have nothing left to give. I hope I have served you well.”
Scripture for Daily Mass
Monday: (1 Maccabees 1) In those days there appeared in Israel men who were breakers of the law, and they seduced many people, saying: "Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us; since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us."
Tuesday: (2 Maccabees 6) Eleazar, one of the foremost scribes, a man of advanced age and noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth to eat pork. But preferring a glorious death to a life of defilement, he spat out the meat
Wednesday: (2 Maccabees 7) It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges by the king, to force them to eat pork in violation of God's law.
Thursday: (Sirach 50) And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth, who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb, and fashions them according to his will! May he grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you; May his goodness toward us endure in Israel to deliver us in our days.
Friday (1 Maccabees 4) Judas and his brothers said, "Now that our enemies have been crushed, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it." So, the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion.
Saturday (1 Maccabees 6) When the king heard this news, he was struck with fear and very much shaken. Sick with grief because his designs had failed, he took to his bed.
There he remained many days, overwhelmed with sorrow, for he knew he was going to die.
Gospel:
Monday: (Luke 18) As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
Tuesday: (Luke 19) At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd.
Wednesday (Luke 19) 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.'
Thursday (Luke 17) As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”
As they were going they were cleansed.
Friday (Luke 19) And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.
Saturday (Luke 20) Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless.
Saints of the Week
November 21: The Presentation of Mary originated as a feast in 543 when the basilica of St. Mary's the New in Jerusalem was dedicated. The day commemorate the event when Mary's parent brought her to the Temple to dedicate her to God. The Roman church began to celebrate this feast in 1585.
November 22: Cecilia, martyr (2nd or 3rd century), is the patron saint of music because of the song she sang at her wedding. She died just days after her husband, Valerian, and his brother were beheaded for refusing to sacrifice to the gods. She is listed in the First Eucharistic prayer as an early church martyr.
November 23: Clement I, pope and martyr (d. 99) is also mentioned in the First Eucharistic prayer. He is the third pope and was martyred in exile. He is presumed to be a former slave in the imperial court. He wrote a letter to the Corinthians after a revolt and as pope he restored ordered within the ministries.
November 23: Columban, abbot (d. 615) was an Irish monk who left Ireland for France with 12 companions to found a monastery as a base for preaching. They established 3 monasteries within 10 years. Columban opposed the king's polygamy and was expelled. He set up monasteries in Switzerland and Italy before he died. Though he was expelled, the monasteries were permitted to remain open.
November 23: Miguel Pro, S.J., martyr (1891-1927) lived in Guadalupe, Mexico before entering the Jesuits. Public worship was forbidden in Mexico so Miguel became an undercover priest often wearing disguises. He was arrested and ordered to be shot in front of a firing squad without benefit of a trial. Before he died she shouted out, "Long live Christ the King."
November 24: Andrew Dung-Lac and companion martyrs (1785-1839) were missionaries to Vietnam during the 17th through 19th centuries. Over 130,000 Christians were killed, including priests, sisters, brothers, and lay people. Many of these were Vietnamese citizens.
Fourth Thursday: Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. is derived from a mix of European and Native American traditions. Joyous festivals were held in Europe to give thanks for a good harvest and to rejoice with others for their hard work. It is a day to give thanks for the many blessings we have received through God's generosity throughout the year.
November 25: Catherine of Alexandria, martyr, (d. 310) is said to have been born in Egypt to a noble family. She was educated and converted to Christianity because of a vision. She refused to marry a man arranged to be her husband by the emperor, and she denounced him for persecuting Christians. She was arrested, tortured, and killed.
This Week in Jesuit History
- November 19, 1526. The Inquisition in Alcala, Spain examined Ignatius. They were concerned with the novelty of his way of life and his teaching.
- November 20, 1864. In St Peter's, Rome, the beatification of Peter Canisius by Pope Pius IX.
- November 21, 1759. At Livorno, the harbor officials refused to let the ship, S Bonaventura, with 120 exiled Portuguese Jesuits on board, cast anchor. Carvalho sent orders to the Governor of Rio de Janeiro to make a diligent search for the supposed wealth of the Jesuits.
- November 22, 1633. The first band of missionaries consisting of five priests and one brother, embarked from England for Maryland. They were sent at the request of Lord Baltimore. The best known among them was Fr. Andrew White.
- November 22, 1791: Georgetown Academy opened with one student, aged 12, who was the first student taught by the Jesuits in the United States.
- November 23, 1545: Jeronimo de Nadal, whom Ignatius had known as a student at Paris, entered the Society. Later Nadal was instrumental in getting Ignatius to narrate his autobiography.
- In 1927: the execution of Fr. Michael Augustine Pro, SJ, by leaders of the persecution of the Church in Mexico.
- November 24, 1963: The death of John LaFarge, pioneer advocate of racial justice in the United States.
- November 25, 1584: The Church of the Gesu, built in Rome for the Society by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, was solemnly consecrated.
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