The first reading for Mass today is pretty awesome for a number of reasons (and no, not just because it is a man who is singing the praises of his wife.) However, it is an awesome reading, because the male writer is obviously either very much in love with his wife in a long-term marriage, or has observed marital relationships of this nature. A married couple’s witness to the entire community they live in, is not to be taken lightly. How we actually live is much more important in God’s eyes, than the words we say.
The second reason this reading is awesome is because of the resourcefulness of the wife. She obtained wool and flax and then wove them into nice fabrics. In other words, she didn’t often sit at leisure in the home. She worked. She took the abilities she had and did something worthwhile with them, and she used her abilities to not only take care of her family, but also the poor and needy. This is still a wonderful role model for women today, but it is also a good role model for men too.
The second reading today spoke about Christians who are children of the light, and children of the day. It doesn’t matter what other people around us are doing, we need to do the right thing. We shouldn’t necessarily live like those around us. We are called to be counter cultural. Many people in our modern world also live with the attitude of “Peace and security” like this reading talks about, when really it is just a front. They pacify their conscience, telling themselves that there is nothing wrong with their way of life, they are happy and at peace about their lifestyle, even if it is morally wrong.
That thought also reminds us of the third servant in today’s gospel, who hid his master’s money and then went about his business as if he wasn’t doing anything wrong. He tried to justify his behavior to himself as well.
The parable in today’s gospel is about increasing the talents, or money that a man gave his servants before he left on a long journey. But, if you notice, it wasn’t for the individual’s personal gain. The three servants were supposed to serve their master, and two of them did, by increasing their master’s assets while he was gone. The third one harbored a grudge against his master though, and didn’t do a thing while his master was gone.
It sounds like the third servant thought he shouldn’t be spending his efforts earning money for someone else. There are a lot of modern-day workers who feel like this too. They resent working hard, for low pay, just to make the owners rich, so they do the least they have to on the job. The thing is though, these workers agreed to do the work when they were hired, at the wages that had been agreed on. If they do not like their job, the honest thing to do, would be to find another job. It really isn’t right to stay in a job you hate for the long-term, if you have a choice. It isn’t fair to you, and it most certainly isn’t fair to your employer.
What the parable in today’s gospel says about increasing the master’s talents (money) could also mean our modern-day talents though. When we grow better in what we do, and develop our talents more, then we will often be put in a better position and earn more pay. It also helps if you can work in something you have a natural interest in though, because your natural abilities will grow because of your interest in the subject.
The same principle about increasing our talents at work, can be put to work in the life of the church too, though. Is there a an interest or an ability you have, that you have never put to good use in the church? Are you a good cook, seamstress, painter, or love to garden or organize things? Do you have a gift as a manager, teacher, singer, musician, public speaker, event planner, accountant, decorator, artist, or do you just enjoy being with children?
These are all talents your parish community could really benefit from. Your talents could help a lot, in building up the body of Christ. If you do not already use your talents and abilities to serve the church, this weekend might be a good time to see where you could make time in your life to do so.
When you stand before the Lord one day, you surely don’t want to have to tell him, that you hid your talents from his people?
Daily Mass Readings:
Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31 / Psalm 128 / 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-6 / Matthew 25: 14-30
