33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 19, 2023

What are you willing to risk for God?

Matthew 25:14–30

[The Parable of the Talents]

“It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

“Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

“[Then] the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

“Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’

“His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’”

Music Meditations

• “The Ground” (“Pleni sunt caeli”) (composed by Ola Gjeilo)
• “The Summons” (John L. Bell) [YouTube]
• “Eye Has Not Seen” (composed by Marty Haugen) [YouTube]

Opening Prayer

Teach me to go to this country beyond words and beyond names.
Teach me to pray on this side of the frontier, here where these woods are.
I need to be led by you.
I need my heart to be moved by you.
I need my soul to be made clean by your prayer. I need my will to be made strong by you.
I need the world to be saved and changed by you.
I need you for all those who suffer, who are in prison, in danger, in sorrow.
I need you for all the crazy people.
I need your healing hand to work always in my life.
I need you to make me, as you made your Son, a healer, a comforter, a savior.
I need you to name the dead.
I need you to help the dying cross their particular rivers.
I need you for myself whether I live or die.
It is necessary.
Amen.

We ask you, God, to give us the courage to go beyond our normal boundaries and be more open to your plans for us and those around us.

Companions for the Journey

From “First Impressions” 2023, a service of the Southern Dominican Province:

Today’s parable is of a rich man going on a long journey who entrusts his servants with money, according to each one’s ability. They are not to be idle while the master is gone. The money left them was an enormous amount. The “talent” was a coin of the highest denomination: think millions of dollars. The master did not leave instructions to the servants. He presumes they will know what they are to do with the money he has left them.

The banking system in Jerusalem offered excellent rates of interest to merchants who entrusted their money it. The Romans had made trade routes safe from pirates and thieves, so trade was profitable. The third servant, afraid and cautious, didn’t have to bury what was given to him. The banks would have been a safe place to put the money, so the master had reason to be upset. The servant should have put the money in the bank where, at least, it would have earned interest. He was harsh on the third servant and takes away any trust he initially had in him.

Jesus told this parable to his disciples and may have used it to condemn those Jewish religious authorities who were like the third servant. They may have kept the tradition that was entrusted to them pure and secure. But, when Jesus came, they were not open to the new situation and circumstances he presented. They refused to hear his message and take it to heart. Were they afraid to take a chance on him?

Jesus is continuing the theme of preparedness he began in last Sunday’s gospel (Mt 25:1-13). Remember the delay of the bridegroom: the virgins were waiting for the one who would bring all things to conclusion. This week’s parable focuses on how disciples use their time waiting for the one who has promised to return. Notice the trust the master has in his servants. He gave each of them a significant amount and left it up to them to know what to do with it.

The man returns and the behavior of the third servant underlines the importance of preparedness and initiative. He tries to justify his failure to earn a profit by saying he was intimidated by the master’s demanding reputation. The servant is called “wicked and lazy” and his master takes the one talent he has away from him. Despite his safe and fearful behavior the servant winds up with nothing. We may be waiting for the Lord’s return, but we are not to be passive, or inactive, because we fear engagement with the world. Playing it safe does not get rewarded in our parable.

Matthew was writing for a church in the 80’s. They were learning the lesson of the parable: how to wait wisely for the Lord. The religious authorities were supposed to be guides for the people, but they had buried the truth to keep it “pure”; not open to the new ideas Jesus was preaching. In effect, they were destroying the treasure God had entrusted to them. The parable is an attempt to wake the disciples to the urgency of the moment Jesus was placing before them. Note that the parable has been called a “crisis parable.”

It also speaks to us: “Wake up and see the opportunity God is presenting to you this day.” Responding to what Jesus asks of us may take risk. Like speaking up when a person, or people, are abused; resisting the allure of money and its false promises; staying the course, even when we are tempted to give up on our church; not giving into compromise at work, or school; staying by the side of a needy family member, etc..

The Lord has left us with the promise of his return. Meanwhile, he has given us gifts, or “charisms”, to use for the benefit of the community. Using these gifts can be risky; we may face persecution, isolation, even death, or just chilled rejection. We cannot “play it safe” like the third servant, fearing negative possibilities, letting those gifts be unused, or underused.

Haven’t we known people who are like the first, or second servant? They seem to have a focus and energy that has helped them respond to God’s grace by using their talents wisely and for the benefit of others. I know of a lawyer who gave up her profitable career to be a legal advocate for the poor. She seems tireless, hardly resting, but joyful. She has discovered a treasure that she wants to use for the benefit of others. She is also like the “ideal wife” in today’s Proverbs reading, using her time in a responsible and altruistic way to serve others.

How did things between God and us begin? They began at creation and continue with God generously bestowing gifts upon us to be used serving God throughout history. We are partners with God for the good both now and into the future.

The servants were trusted to use their own ingenuity and energy, one might even say boldness in their use of the funds. Being faithful is not a fixed state of life. The parable urges energy and risk. Perhaps we know what we should do, what changes we need to make, but are not doing it, not risking leaving a comfortable napping place to face what is asked of us these days.

At this Eucharist we hesitant disciples pray for wisdom, direction and boldness to be disciples living this parable — a “parabolic people.” Think of the generosity our God revealed from the beginning of the Scriptures. We can trust that God will extend a hand towards us to give what we need to live this parable as good and faithful stewards.

Further reflection:

• Parables in the Gospels >>
• Commentary on Matthew 25:14–30 >>

Weekly Memorization

Taken from the gospel for today’s session…

Well done, my good and faithful servant

Living the Good News

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

• List some gifts or “talents” you have. Do you consider them to have been given or to have been lent?
  What is the difference?
  Do you use your talents for your own aggrandizement and success, or do you put them at the disposal of those who need help in some way?
• If you were told to lay your biggest accomplishment thus far before God, what would it be?
  What does this tell you about yourself?
• This parable might not be about some specific talents we might use for God. It might be about committing all that we have. Is there anything I am holding back out of fear, greed, selfishness?
  Are there people in our community who are giving way more than is expected of them?
• What is God’s “property” that has been entrusted to me—the natural world itself, my loved ones, the poor and downtrodden, my career, for example?
  Are the talents I have been loaned by God for this life His property or mine?
• Why do you think the master rewards the man with two talents the same as the man with five talents?
• What does it mean to “reap what you do not sow” and “gather where you did not scatter seed”?”
  The master is also willing to earn money at the expense of others… does this sound like God to you?
  In your mind is Jesus more like the exacting master or more like a shepherd?
• What was the final servant’s motive for being so cautious?
  Did he see his job as basically to do the master’s bidding, or something else?
• In what ways am I too tentative or too cautious in working for the kingdom?
  In what ways do I bury my “talent” so that it doesn’t get in the way of my real life?
  Am I risk-averse?
• Have I been so preoccupied with my own life (family, fears, health, relationships, money, etc) that I lost track of my mission on this earth?
• We think of talents as natural gifts, but in this time and in this parable, it means something of value. Could one’s reputation be a “talent”?
• We speak of gifts of the Spirit (Charisms). How might these be talents?
• Do I see the word “talents” as opportunities God has given me?
  For what purpose?
  Have I seen any opportunities that have come my way to enhance the Kingdom?
• Are these opportunities always recognized, or always welcomed?
  Can bad luck be an opportunity?
  Do I control my opportunities or does God?
• Do I sense any urgency in the choices I make?
• Do the talents I possess make me careless or arrogant?
  What “talents” have I been given to use for the good of God’s kingdom?
  What, in fact IS my true vocation?
• If the word “talent” were a metaphor for the servant’s true vocation and he buried it so no one could see it, how might that relate to my own life?
• We are either trading with our talents or burying them in the ground. What do I chose?
• Have I ever kept some of what I have been entrusted with as something for my own gain, my own use?
• What, exactly, is the “joy” we are promised? (Satisfaction, good luck, success, feeling of a mission accomplished, etc.)
• By Jude Siciliano, O.P.:
  Do I treat my faith as something fragile, keeping it close and protected as if it will break if brought out into the open?
  In my daily life, how venturesome before others am I with my faith?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Dominican Style/Asking Questions:

Read Psalm 112:

1Alleluia!
Blessed the man who fears the Lord, who takes great delight in his commandments.
2His descendants shall be powerful on earth; the generation of the upright will be blest.
3Riches and wealth are in his house; his justice stands firm forever.
4A light rises in the darkness for the upright; he is generous, merciful, and just.
5It goes well for the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice.
6He will never be moved; forever shall the just be remembered.
7He has no fear of evil news; with a firm heart, he trusts in the Lord.
8With a steadfast heart he will not fear; he will see the downfall of his foes.
9Openhanded, he gives to the poor; his justice stands firm forever. His might shall be exalted in glory.
10The wicked sees and is angry, grinds his teeth and fades away; the desire of the wicked leads to doom.

Compare the behavior that is the outcome of fear of the Lord in this psalm with the behavior of the last servant in the parable of the talents. Here are two different meanings of the word “fear”. In many ways, these differing attitudes are the result of how I think of God: Am I visioning a God who asks me to risk wildly for the sake of the kingdom, or am I visioning a God who is primarily the judge who tallies up my sins? My answer also depends on my culture, my personality, and my worldview: If I see the world as a treacherous place luring me into sin, and if I would prefer not to risk making mistakes, I have one view. On the other hand, if I see the world as full of opportunities to grow personally and opportunities to make a difference, if I think it is a failure never to risk failure by stretching myself, then I have another view.

When you think of your relationship with God, which of these meanings fits your own personal behavior? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

A Meditation in the Ignatian Style/Imagination:

I imagine that I am on the three-person finance team of a very wealthy investor. He is about to leave the country, sailing around the world on a sabbatical. He is a tough and exacting boss, and it is surprising that he says he does not want to be disturbed on this sabbatical for anything but the most dire emergency. Depending on our seniority, he gives us each a portion of his portfolio to manage while he is away. I am the most junior, so I get the least. Less responsibility for me, I think. The three of us are more often rivals than colleagues, so it is no wonder that we do not consult with one another about our investing choices. I really am afraid of losing my job, and want to be sure I do not lose any of my boss’s money, so I simply leave it in a savings account. In that way the FDIC will cover any losses that the bank incurs up to $250,000. The interest is almost nothing, but the risk is non-existent—especially since my boss only gave me about $250,000 to work with. While the boss is gone, the market has endured ups and downs, and I wonder what the others have done. I eventually learn that one of the team put the share he was entrusted with into an investment portfolio with medium risk, and the other put his into a real estate investment. When the master returns, I realize how much more the other investments made compared to mine, but expect to be thanked for not risking my boss’s money. Well, as you might guess, I was fired for my timidity and I still wonder why. What would have happened if the others lost their boss’s money?

In this story I can see myself on one of the three members of the finance team, except that the “portfolio” I have been given are my talents, my education, my situation in life, my place in the community and the Church. Am I a risk-taker; do I sometimes act without thinking of negative consequences? Or am I so risk-averse that I coast along, expecting the minimum out of life and not making any waves, even if I am confronted with evil? Do I look over my shoulder, worried that others are catching up to me in the race for spiritual perfection? Am I proactive or reactive? What, exactly, are the motives behind the choices I make in my family, at work or in the larger culture I inhabit? I look at what risks I am willing to take for the sake of my own soul, but especially for the good of the Kingdom here on earth. What have I risked for those I love? What have I gained or lost? What have I risked for God?

A Meditation in the Franciscan Style/Action:

This parable is more than an exhortation to use well our qualities. It is about the kingdom, which has been entrusted to the disciples and thence to us, as Jesus embarked on his journey away from earthly life. When Jesus returns, he will expect his servants to have put to work the riches he has entrusted to us. How has the Catholic Church done in this regard? What events or people, especially, have mirrored the mission of growing the Kingdom? What events or people have not? In our own individual lives, we have inherited this command from Jesus. How do I interpret this commission Jesus left me with? What actions are required of me in this world here and now? When my master comes for me, how will I answer?

Poetic Reflection:

How does this poem by Thomas Centollela, a former Stanford Stegner Fellow, capture the urgency of this parable’s message?

“Big Rec”

A few hours spent in the dry rooms of the dying
Then the walk home, the sudden rain
Comes hard, and you want it coming hard,
You want it hitting you in the forehead
Like anointment, blessing all the days
That otherwise would be dismissed
As business as usual. Now you’re ready
To lean upon the rail above the empty diamonds
Where, in the summer, the ballplayers wait patiently
For one true moment more alive than all the rest.
Now you’re ready for the ancient religion of dogs,
That unleashed romp through the wildness, responding
To no one’s liturgy but the field’s and the rain’s.
You’ve come this far, but you need to live further in.
You need to slip into the blind man awhile,
Tap along with his cane past the market stalls
And take in, as if they were abandoned,
The little blue crabs which in an hour will be eaten.
You have to become large enough to accommodate
All the small lives that otherwise would be forgotten.
You have to raise yourself to the power of ten.
Love more, require less, love without regard
For form. You have to live further in.

–Thomas Centollela, from Lights and Mysteries

Closing Prayer

From Ray Stedman, a well-known 20th century Christian preacher:

Lord Jesus, have I ventured anything for you? Have I risked my life for your sake? Or have I but transferred my ambition from the world of business or sport to the world of religion, still busy seeking self-aggrandizement, self-exaltation? Lord, teach me to risk, to abandon, to cast away what would minister only to myself and mine. For your name’s sake. Amen.

Parables in the Gospels

Parables

* The meaning of most parables is not so obvious, or at least it shouldn't be. If we assume we know what Jesus is talking about, we are probably missing the main point; if we are too familiar with the story (having heard it so often before), we might not think carefully enough about its real meaning.

* Most parables contain some element that is strange or unusual. They should cause you to say, "Wait a minute! That's not how farmers do their work! Wealthy landowners would not give such astronomical sums of money to underlings with so few instructions!! That's not what normally happens in nature!" And this strange element should cause you to think.

* Parables do not define things precisely, but rather use comparisons to describe some aspect of how God acts or interacts with human beings. Yet to say "A is like B" does not mean that "A is identical to B in all respects"; so one should be careful not to misinterpret or misapply the parables. Some would say that parables should be treated as allegory, not metaphor or simile.

*We might think that Jesus spoke in parables to make it easier for people to understand his message. According to the Gospels, however, he surprisingly does NOT expect everyone to understand them!

In Matthew, at least the disciples of Jesus understand the parables; but in Mark, even they have a hard time understanding, despite receiving extra instructions in private!

(Adapted from a short analysis by James C. Christensen)

Parables were meant to catch Jesus' listeners off guard, to make them re-evaluate their normal ways of behaving, and to align their hearts with God's heart. Many parables, like the one about the Pharisee and the Publican, or the one about the Good Samaritan, employed elements which were very countercultural, and shocking to the people of Jesus' time. In the story of the talents, the master reprimands the last servant for not investing money and charging interest on it. However, every one of Jesus’ listeners would have known that this practice is forbidden in scripture (Exodus 22:25’ Leviticus 25:35-28). This would be a huge red flag to the listener that something is going on here.

In our own case, because we have grown up with them, the details of the parables seem familiar or even ordinary to us, and we don’t experience the shock value of the stories. Often, we need to translate those stories using examples from our own social and cultural situations in order to see how truly counter-cultural they are.

These parables, which appear to be simple and straightforward stories, are actually multi-dimensional and complex. Frequently, we are left with things unresolved and have to make some conclusions of our own. Does the elder brother ever go in to join the party welcoming the prodigal son home? How do those in the vineyard who worked much longer hours respond to the words of the vineyard owner? Does the Good Samaritan return, and what happens to the victim? Does the Pharisee ever understand his spiritual arrogance? Once they get inside, do the five "wise" virgins enjoy the banquet, knowing that their sisters are still outside? Why DID a guest at the wedding feast show up poorly attire and refuse to explain why? Why was a servant actually punished when he did not waste or lose any of the landowner’s money? How we resolve those issues in our own minds tells us a lot about our own attitudes. Are they in line with God's or not?

If there is some overall wisdom to be gleaned from parables, it is this: God's ways are not our ways. Parables tell us that the fight for the kingdom is not played out in palaces and war rooms, but in the everyday events of our everyday lives. The struggle for the kingdom is carried out in our divided hearts, where we sometimes mutter "Thy kingdom come" without fully realizing that we might have to pray "My kingdom go". (Alan Redpath, British Baptist Preacher). The parable demands that each of us answer the question "What do YOU say? How we answer defines our moral landscape.

Commentary on Matthew 25:14–30

The parable of the talents is among the most abused texts in the New Testament.

Contrary to what might be modeled by some best-selling televangelists, the parable does not justify a gospel of economic prosperity. Instead, it challenges believers to emulate their Master by using all that God has given them for the sake of the kingdom.

The parable is located in Jesus’ eschatological discourse (24:1-25:46) where he instructs his disciples to endure through difficult times and to live in anticipation of the Lord’s return. Like all the parables in this section, it exemplifies the certainty of the Lord’s coming and how the disciples are to live in the meantime.

The teaching of the talents recalls the parable of the faithful and wise slave who continues to do the work of the master until the master comes (24:45-51). Although the master is delayed, he arrives to find the wise slave doing the tasks that have been appointed to him in the master’s absence.

The foolish slave, however, has neglected his work and abused his power. He receives severe punishment. Likewise, in the parable of the talents, the master entrusts his servants with his property, and punishment awaits those who have failed to carry on the master’s work (24:49-51).

Like the parable of the ten maidens before it, the parable of the talents portrays the kingdom of God (25:14). The kingdom is not simply likened to a man on a journey, but to the story that follows – a story that illustrates how the disciples are to wait until the Lord comes.

In this story a wealthy man prepares for a journey by entrusting his estate to his servants. In the Lukan version of this parable (Luke 19:12-27), ten slaves receive one pound a piece to do the master’s business. In the Matthean version, however, there are only three servants, and they receive shares according to their ability (25:15).

Although the first receives five times as much as the last, each receives a significant sum of money. A talent is equal to about 6,000 denarii. Since one denarius is a common laborer’s daily wage, a talent would be roughly equivalent to 20 years wages for the average worker. Five talents, the largest amount entrusted to any of the servants, is comparable to one hundred years worth of labor, an astronomical amount of money.

Like the preceding two parables (24:45-51; 25:1-13), the return of the master is certain, but the timing is unknown. After a long absence, he discovers what each servant has done with his property. The first two slaves do business with the master’s talents and double his money. Although the first slave earned more than the second, each has done remarkably well with what he has been given. They have performed according to their potential, and they have been faithful to do what the master has required of them. The master’s response to each is the same. He commends the slaves for being good and faithful, entrusts them with more authority, and invites them to enter his “joy.”

The third servant is not so fortunate. In the response of this slave, however, the audience learns even more about the master. He is a man who reaps where he does not sow and gathers where he has not scattered seed. He aggressively seeks to expand his estate and takes whatever he can wherever he can to make a profit. He even reprimands the servant for failing to invest the money with the bankers so that he might have gained interest – a practice forbidden in scripture (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35-38).

The master’s willingness to earn money at the expense of others challenges any allegorical interpretation of the parable that would directly correlate him with Jesus, who never acts in a manner to seek personal gain. That a wealthy landowner would behave in this manner, however, makes the story all the more compelling.

The third slave admits that he was afraid to lose the master’s money. To protect himself, he buried the talent in the ground. Although this may seem odd to audiences today, burying treasure was quite common at this time (13:44).

The master is furious. He had entrusted this servant with a portion of his property in order that the slave would use his abilities – abilities that had helped the master in the past – in order to turn a profit for his lord. This slave, however, was too afraid to take a risk – even though risky behavior was part of the master’s business. Instead, he attempted to secure his own well-being. In the end his unfaithfulness to carry on the master’s work cost him severely (25:30).

The master expected the servants to continue his business, to take risks to make a profit, and to emulate his behavior. Two servants were found faithful, and they are rewarded. Their faithfulness had increased the master’s wealth and expanded his estate.

In its literary setting, Jesus tells this story to his disciples (24:3) to prepare them for the days ahead when their faith will be tested. This parable depicts how the disciples are to demonstrate their faithfulness as they anticipate the return of the Lord.

What does faithfulness look like in a time of waiting? In Matthew’s Gospel faithfulness is emulating the ministry of Jesus. Jesus has announced the arrival of God’s kingdom by feeding the hungry, curing the sick, blessing the meek, and serving the least.

All who would follow Jesus are to preach the good news of the kingdom to the whole world (24:14) by going about the work that the master has called them to do (24:24-51). This work includes visiting the sick and imprisoned, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger, and feeding the hungry (25:31-46). Those who are found faithful may hear their Master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

—Carla Works
Associate Professor New Testament
Wesley Theological Seminary

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 12, 2023

Be prepared; live now as if the kingdom were already here

Matthew 25:1–13

Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked.

Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Music Meditations

• “In Every Age” (by Janèt Sullivan Whitaker) [YouTube]
• “Christ Be Our Light” (sung by Spiritual Singing Band) [YouTube]
• “Table of Plenty” (by Dan Schutte; sung by John Michael Talbot) [YouTube]

Opening Prayer

Teach me to go to this country beyond words and beyond names.
Teach me to pray on this side of the frontier, here where these woods are.
I need to be led by you.
I need my heart to be moved by you.
I need my soul to be made clean by your prayer. I need my will to be made strong by you.
I need the world to be saved and changed by you.
I need you for all those who suffer, who are in prison, in danger, in sorrow.
I need you for all the crazy people.
I need your healing hand to work always in my life.
I need you to make me, as you made your Son, a healer, a comforter, a savior.
I need you to name the dead.
I need you to help the dying cross their particular rivers.
I need you for myself whether I live or die.
It is necessary.
Amen.

Companions for the Journey

From “First Impressions” 2011, a service of the Southern Dominican Province:

We shouldn’t be distracted by the “unreal” details of the parable in today’s gospel. Why didn’t the maidens, who had oil, share with those who didn’t? Where could those in need ever find a market to buy oil at midnight? Why did they cry out with the special title “Lord, Lord” to the bridegroom? Why didn’t he recognize them, after all, they were in the wedding party? We have to allow Jesus, the storyteller, the creative license to include details that will help him paint a picture to give us insight into, what he describes as, “the kingdom of heaven.”

We know that in Jesus’ time marriages were arranged by the families of the couple. Fathers arranged the marriage, while mothers set the terms. First, there was the betrothal period of a year or so after the terms of the marriage were set. Then the bride was transferred to the husband’s home. These marriage practices may help explain the delay in the groom’s coming.

Today’s parable is the second in the sequence of three that emphasize preparedness while we await the Lord’s Second Coming. Like the others, the parable of the ten maidens, emphasizes the need to be vigilant and ready NOW for the Lord’s return.

There are choices we must make NOW in the light of our hope and as we wait. We do what we can to nourish our spirits, form our minds and fortify our wills—NOW. We can’t put off for tomorrow decisions that show our fidelity to God and commitment to Jesus and his ways. If we delay doing that, isn’t that a sign of our lack: of faith in Christ’s presence NOW, as well as our hope in his final coming?

We can’t prepare for the in-breaking of Christ into our lives at the moment he comes. The parable urges a more constant vigilance and state of preparation. Nor can we rely on the vigilance and preparedness of others. No one can take responsibility for us, we must do that for ourselves—ready to greet Jesus each day of our lives and then when he comes at the end.

What is clear in this parable is that when the critical moment of Jesus’s entry into our lives arrives, it will be decisive. Preparation time is over. If we have lived vigilant lives we will enter the wedding feast with Christ our bridegroom. The foolish maidens arrived after the door was locked and when they knocked the door was not opened. It was too late. Poor choices were made, the time for preparation was over. The parable has allegorical features. For example, the wise maidens trimmed their lamps when the bridegroom’s arrival was announced. Psalm 119 refers to God’s Word as “a lamp unto my feet.” Hearing the Word of God will illumine us and help us recognize the Lord when he arrives. The light of the Word will also sustain us until he does.

For some this is a welcome parable; for others it is an ominous one. For those whose lives have been lived actively seeking and doing God’s will, their light will shine bright and the door will be opened for them. Those who have lived by false lights and indifference to their future fate will find the door barred.

”What’s taking so long?” We live in an impatient world. Someone got angry the other day at the supermarket. We were on the “Express lane—10 items or less,” the sign said. But the man in front of me had 12 purchases. The woman behind me challenged his “lack of consideration.” “Can’t you read the sign,” she told him sternly, “10 items not 12!” In light of today’s parable we too might express some impatience and ask, “What’s taking the Lord so long?” But we know we don’t have to wait till our deaths or the Second Coming for the Lord’s arrival. The kingdom Jesus brought about in word and deed comes into our lives every day in a variety of ways. The parable reminds us to be alert and prepared for it. Meanwhile, during our waiting time, the Lord has taught us that we can welcome the kingdom’s arrival by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, giving drink to the thirsty, sheltering the homeless and setting free the oppressed. So, while we wait for the final arrival of Christ we have plenty to do, because he comes daily in disguised and surprising ways. Wisdom is a key virtue for our gospel today. It helps us stay vigilant and guides us in the practical choices of daily life. And so we pray, “Come Spirit of Wisdom.” “Come Spirit of Vigilance.” “Come Spirit of Preparedness.”

Further reflection:

• Commentary on Matthew 25:1-13 from “First Impressions” >>

Weekly Memorization

Taken from the gospel for today’s session…

Therefore, stay awake

Living the Good News

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

• What does it mean to live in the moment?
  What does it mean to live now as if Jesus was already here?
• Are there times in my life when I have been wise?
  Are there times in my life when I have been foolish?
  Which times define me?
• Are there people that we know of, say someone diagnosed with a terminal illness, who might make different choices about what they do and how they live based on this diagnosis?
  Why do we not do so as well?
• Why does every age seem to have people who predict the end of the world as we know it?
• Until the second coming arrives, what are we to do meanwhile?
• Did you know that there are still people who profess that if you are not Catholic you cannot get into heaven?
  Is being in the right religious group important for our salvation?
• Why do we keep referring to the kingdom of heaven as if it were heaven itself?
• “He will come again to judge the living and the dead”. What does this mean for you?
• Matthew uses the phrase “weeping and gnashing of teeth” six times, Luke once, and Mark not at all… How do you react to Matthew’s emphasis on the final judgment?
• How does our emphasis on reward and punishment (Heaven or Hell) as motivators for good behavior fly in the face of real love for God?
  Can you love what you fear?
• How does focus on the “selfish” maidens miss the point of the story?
  How or why do we lose focus on what is really important in our lives?
• Do I believe that Jesus is present in our world right now, or only at end times?
• One commentary suggested that the response of the wise virgins to the foolish virgins was to illustrate that you have to have your own faith, that someone else cannot believe for you. How do you react to that?
  Is our putting off until tomorrow decisions that show our commitment to Christ laziness, denial, or lack of faith?
  Can others actually help us with this task?
• Henri Nouwen had a completely different viewpoint: “…worrying about the next life seems a false preoccupation. When my clear goal is the eternal life, that life must be reachable right now, where I am, because eternal life is life in and with God, and God is where I am here and now.” Does that liberate us or scare us?
• Father Jude Siciliano said in a commentary on this gospel: “People will desire it; many will believe God’s promise; many will commit themselves to wait for its realization. But only a few will find their desire, their belief, and their commitment in ample supply. Time and the flame of the weary, mundane ordinariness of life will try to lick dry our desire for the Kingdom and our belief in God’s promise.”
  Do you agree or disagree?
• If this parable is read as a Wisdom teaching, then what is the wise thing for me to be doing today?
  Am I doing it, or do I live in denial?
• Why is it that we tend to think we need more “stuff” (as in more oil) in order to be prepared for the worst in our lives?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Dominican style/Asking Questions:

This parable, at first glance, would seem to suggest that the virgins were foolish because they did not come prepared with enough oil. Another possibility is that their mistake was assuming that having oil was preferable to staying around to greet the bridegroom. So what if they did not have enough oil? It would not have been great, but at least they would have been there to welcome the bridegroom and to join in the festivities. They took the focus off the bridegroom and put it on lighted lamps and the oil for those lamps, assuming that having perfectly lit lamps was absolutely necessary to be part of the celebration. This parable really speaks to the worriers and the perfectionists among us, those who think we need to be sinless to be loved by God and to be welcomed into God’s kingdom. The kingdom of God is not about our imperfections, our mistakes and our sins, but about our right relationship with Jesus the bridegroom. I take some time to reflect on my relationship with Jesus, looking especially on what habits of the heart I can cultivate to make that relationship stronger—mercy, forgiveness, generosity, concern for the poor that results in actually trying to do something to mitigate their pain. For example… I pray for the wisdom to discern what is important in my life and what needs to change for me to participate joyfully in the wedding feast that is God’s presence in my life.

A Meditation in the Ignatian Style/Imagination:

Let us imagine the scenes of this parable, then translate it to our own times. In the wedding ceremonies of Jesus’ time, the actual wedding began with a formal betrothal, under the special bridal tent (Huppah). Here, the groom would give the bride money or a valuable object such as a ring, and a cup of wine was customarily shared to seal their covenant vows. In this public ceremony under the huppah, the couple entered into the betrothal period, which typically lasted for about a year. Although they were considered married, they did not live together or engage in sexual relations. This was as binding as a marriage itself. On the wedding day, the groom would take the bride from her father’s house to her own, but only after all of the negotiations (What dowry the bride’s father pays, what property the groom’s family bestows on the bride, etc.) were completed. It is surprising that this was not all done before the actually wedding day, but it seem that this was not always the case. So depending on how the negotiations went, the arrival of the bridegroom and his bride was an ever-moving target. Therefore, the guests and the lamp bearers (the 10 young women) went to the groom’s house and waited for the party to start. Someone in the groom’s entourage might go ahead and alert the guests that the bridal couple was coming, but only after they had actually set out from the ride’s house. As we look at this parable of the poor young women who ran out of oil, and the five wise ones who brought enough, we try to find who we might be in this story. Translating it to real times, what am I waiting for? Is it Happiness? Family? Financial security? God? Death? The Second Coming? Am I willing to wait even though what I am waiting for seems to take a very long time? Can I trust myself to the unknown and develop the patience needed? Do I focus too much on the future, with its fears and rewards, instead of living fully in the present? If someone were to ask me for spiritual or material help on their particular journey, how would I respond? Where does generosity and love come in? I talk to Jesus about entrusting myself to the unknown, asking for his wisdom and his help in the waiting room we call life.

A Meditation in the Franciscan Style/Action:

JUSTICE BULLETIN BOARD

“Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.” (Matthew 25:12)

It would be pretty scary that when we meet our God, who has counted every hair on our head, that we might be unknown. Since today’s Gospel is about a wedding, I thought about how our lives could be fashioned as a memorable cake in God’s eyes. Feel free to add your own special ingredients.

The Compassionate Life Cake

Ingredients:
4 lb. of compassionate love
1 lb. of mercy
1 lb of tenderness
1 lb. of humbleness
½ lb. of justice
½ lb. of grace
¼ lb. of forgiveness
¼ lb. of good humor
1 pint of laughter
1 cup of common sense
2 tsp. of adversity
1 oz. of spirit
… and a sprinkle of beauty

Put your compassionate love, mercy and tenderness into action together. Combine humbleness, justice and grace and mix well with forgiveness and good humor. Don’t forget the laughter! Be sure to include common sense and season with a touch of adversity and a dose of spirit. Combine all the ingredients and sprinkle with the beauty of wisdom. Take a lifetime to perfect your creation. May you live your life compassionately and with passion.

—Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS
Coordinator of Social Justice Ministries
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Raleigh, NC

Poetic Reflection:

Read the following poem by Mary Oliver… How does it capture the sense of what we should be focusing on as we prepare to meet Jesus?

“Making the House Ready for the Lord”

Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but
still nothing is as shining as it should be
for you. Under the sink, for example, is an
uproar of mice—it is the season of their
many children. What shall I do? And under the eaves
and through the walls the squirrels
have gnawed their ragged entrances—but it is the season
when they need shelter, so what shall I do? And
the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard
while the dog snores, the cat hugs the pillow;
what shall I do? Beautiful is the new snow falling
in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly
up the path, to the door. And still I believe you will
come, Lord: you will, when I speak to the fox,
the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know
that really I am speaking to you whenever I say,
as I do all morning and afternoon: Come in, Come in.

Closing Prayer

From this week’s letter from Paul to the Thessalonians:

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be unaware about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For the Lord himself, with a word of command, and with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

[Take a moment to name anyone who has died for whom you wish to pray.]

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…

[Take a moment to name and pray for anyone in your life who might need lifting up.]

Thus we shall always be with the Lord… therefore, console one another with these words.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Commentary on Matthew 25:1-13 from “First Impressions”

From First Impressions 2023:

Every culture and religion has its own way of celebrating weddings. Each also has its risks getting things wrong. Weddings were a very big deal in Jesus’ day. Even more than now. Then weddings could last the whole week! They might start late, well into the night, because the families had to negotiate the dowry before the wedding could begin. A long negotiating was a compliment to the bride; she was a treasure. Finally, when the dowry was settled, the groom would come and all would go out to meet him. They would need oil. Lots of oil. The feast would begin and, remember, it could last a week!

Christians hearing the parable would liken the bridegroom to Christ. He was expected to return and begin the messianic banquet. They would also liken the foolish girls to less fervent Christians. Christians suffered for their faith and they were tempted to disappointment. Why doesn’t Jesus come and set things right? What’s taking him so long? We are attempted to ask the same questions these days. There’s a lot wrong with the world—so much suffering! Ukrainians, Jews and Palestinians, and let’s not forget young Russian soldiers too. What to do? The parable speaks of vigilance, preparedness and watchfulness; especially in the face of such tragedies.

We must not limit the idea of being ready to welcome the Lord to only the moment of death. That is not what the parable is saying. The kingdom of heaven begins here and now. Christ comes into our life every day, in many ways. But are our eyes and ears open to perceive his presence? Are we alert to welcome him and to respond to his invitation, “Follow me”?

How might we be prepared when he does come? The kingdom of heaven is present when “kingdom activity” is taking place: the hungry are fed, the thirsty given water; the sick and imprisoned visited; homeless given shelter; refugees protected and the oppressed set free. We do not have to wait for death to experience the kingdom of heaven. The bridegroom Jesus comes to us to form us and lead us to the full life which has been made possible by his death and resurrection.

This parable is the second of four stories Jesus tells about how we are to live until he comes. We might conclude from it that the virtuous are those who stay constantly alert. But note that all the virgins “became drowsy and fell asleep,” because the bridegroom was delayed. The difference between the wise and foolish virgins is that the wise ones are prepared and have brought extra oil to see them through their waiting for the bridegroom. He is delayed, but that does not mean that he will not come. It’s only when he comes that the celebrating begins. So, we are being asked to live in hope that what Jesus has promised will come to be, but for now we wait and hope.

The parable contrasts wisdom and folly; being sensible and being silly. It’s an invitation to us. Which would we rather be? Ready, or distracted? The oil is a symbol for readiness, not just at the end of our lives, but now. Ready for any surprise, good or bad, which we must face in our lives. “Stay awake”—Jesus’ advice to us today, especially at the key moments, the turning points, in our lives. Be prepared, be wise, then go ahead. What can help us stay awake, keep us alert to what’s happening in our lives now?

The parable suggests what we already know: we need to learn patience. This is particularly true with God. God keeps us waiting. The bridegroom, Jesus Christ, arrives late and because he does, we might not be prepared. The wise ones in the parable are prepared for the delay. We could enter into the parable and say something like: “I thought I brought enough oil to get me through the wedding. But the bridegroom is in charge, not me. My task is to be ready and prepared, even for the delay.”

We are a fast-moving society. We don’t like delays. They are working on the highway near us and people, myself included, complain about the delay the work causes. I was at a retreat center a while back and the internet was slow. I didn’t like waiting for the information I was looking for on my browser.

So we ask ourselves: what is the oil I have in my lamp as I wait for the Lord to come? What do I need that will sustain me during the delay? As I look around at those who are “awake” in my faith community they seem to sustain themselves by a regular habit of prayer; worship with others; works of mercy; acts of justice and forgiveness. Is it any wonder that the wise virgins cannot share their oil. We cannot share the spiritual reserves that keep us prepared to meet the Lord when he comes.