Working with the Word

Focusing the Gospel

Key words and phrases: entrusted his possessions to them, five more, two more, buried your talent, throw … into the darkness

To the point: Every servant in this Gospel parable is given riches by the master with the expectation that each servant will increase what has been given. Even one talent was a significant amount of riches. To bury it was to waste its potential. The servant who does so out of fear, wickedness, laziness is condemned by the master upon his return and loses even what he has. The wealth each of us has been given by our Master is a share in his very Life. Even a small amount is an incalculable richness. We will be judged by how we have chosen to allow this Life to increase, to grow within us. To choose otherwise is to bury our very selves.

Connecting the Gospel …

… to the First Reading: Unlike the “wicked, lazy servant” in the Gospel, this faithful and loving wife works diligently to bring good to others and is judged praiseworthy for increasing the quality of life within and around her

… to experience: When facing any kind of judgment, our first response is to be uncomfortable. Upon reflection, when our choices and behaviors have led to fuller Life for ourselves and others, we know we have nothing to fear from a judgment. Indeed, we can even look forward to it.

**From Saint Louis University