Month: November 2020

Those of us who are naturally risk-averse might feel a little uncomfortable with today’s Gospel. After all, isn’t it safer not to take the chance of losing the talent?

As I reflected more on this passage, along with the rest of the readings for this Sunday, I came to see this parable is not so much about risk taking. It is about letting trust overcome fear, and whether our focus is on our own interests or on God’s.

In the servant with one talent, I see reflected my own tendency to calm my fears by trying to control any and all situations. As the master pointed out, if this servant was simply uncomfortable with taking risks, he could have put the talent in the bank. This action of burying the talent seems more an act of trying to control the situation: I can keep an eye on it, no one knows where it is, the Master can’t blame me for losing his talent or making a foolish investment. With his inaction, he made his fear about his own wellbeing his top priority. In his failure to try, he betrayed his lack of trust in his master and in himself, and on top of that, he literally insulted his master when asked why he did what he did.

Now contrast this servant to the “worthy wife” in the First Reading, and the “children of the light” in the Second Reading. They are alert, work hard, and actively seek to do God’s will. They are able to see beyond themselves. Instead of focusing only on their own condition, they can see clearly beyond themselves and reach out in generosity to those who are in need. They are “to be praised”–all the more so because they are seeking God’s will, not praise.

Clearly, God does not call us to be reckless. After all, prudence is one of the cardinal virtues. However, when we fail to take action out of fear, we show a lack of trust in God and the talents He gave us. May God grant us the courage to overcome fear of failure and blame, that we may offer Him something in return for the gifts He gives us.

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Today’s parable is straightforward on the surface: we should never become weary of praying, even if it seems our prayer is not being heard. But if we just look a little deeper, there is a more profound lesson.

We’ve all heard many times that we should “pray without ceasing” and that God hears all our prayers. And we know that when we pray, there is a possibility (or even probability) that things will not work out precisely the way we want. We’ve heard that’s because God knows what’s best, which is certainly true.  I sometimes say that God has three answers to prayer: 1) “Yes.” 2) “In just a minute.” and 3) “Actually, I have a better idea.” Our trustful prayer must be open to all three possible answers!

Jesus insists over the course of several parables on the importance of prayer, on our correct attitude at prayer, and the need to pray always. Prayer is simply a conversation with God; words are not even necessary, as it can be a simple lifting of the heart and mind to God because we desire to know His will, to walk in His ways, to glorify Him. When this becomes a habit, we are “praying always” and our love quietly deepens. St. Augustine says, “Desire always, and you pray always. This is the continual voice of prayer…You are silent when you cease to love. The cooling of charity is the silence of the heart.” If our hearts are not reaching toward God, even wordlessly, we are not fanning the flames of love.

The constant prayer of those “who call out to him day and night” must be accompanied by a firm faith, a confident hope that God hears every prayer. In this, Jesus seems to speak to each individual as well as to the Church as a whole: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” These words point to the final coming of Christ; before that apocalyptic day, the faith of all will be put to the test. As in the case of the foolish virgins in another parable, the oil necessary for keeping the fire of faith burning cannot be borrowed or bought at the last minute! It is a habit of prayer and Spirit-led action that keeps our oil lamps burning in expectation of the coming of the Bridegroom.

So it is wise to ask for the gifts of prayer, patience, and perseverance. These are gifts that the Spirit loves to pour out on the People of God, but our asking for them shows that we understand these powers do not come from ourselves and places our souls in the position to receive them properly. When we acknowledge that without Him we can do nothing, we give God permission and opportunity to work freely in us and through us, and our prayer is directed by the Spirit through Jesus right to the Heart of the Father.

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Today the Church celebrates St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. Mother Cabrini was the first citizen of the United States to become a saint. She worked with immigrants, established schools and hospitals, and served the poor and neglected. The readings are a fitting tribute to her and her way of life. Mother Cabrini was dedicated to service through love. She and the Missionary Sisters worked tirelessly at the turn of the 20th century, which was a time of many challenges.

The readings today are challenging. The longer I have prayed with them, the more unsettled I’ve become. Why? It’s because of the times in my life that I know I haven’t had my focus on the law of Love from our Lord and Savior.

All the times I’ve been judgmental towards some folks or dismissed issues which may not have directly affected me but have had negative consequences on others or my surroundings, is part of my conscious awareness of what I have done and failed to do in the eyes of the Lord.

I must be very intentional in what I say and do. The readings today drive home the point that intentions should be of the Love the Lord commanded and Christ sacrificed loving all humanity. I have to choose Love in every situation. I don’t want to be like one of the people lost in the flood during the time of Noah, or like Sodom, or Lot’s wife as is written in the Gospel

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us in #1604…“God who created man out of love also calls him to love – the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being.”

To choose Love, is not the easy way. It is intentional, this call to Love. It is the way of truth. It is the way to the Father, through Jesus Christ, to redemption.

Read the following lines. Take them into your prayer while looking at them through the eyes of a different examination of conscience.

What do you choose?

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