Today’s readings are very deep, and there are many messages you can extract from them. On the surface, the Gospel today regarding the Parable of the Ten
Gold Coins is very similar to Sundays Gospel in which the Parable of the Talents was discussed. Both parables discuss the responsibility we have to do the right thing, do the job we are task with to the best of our ability using the talents and abilities God has given us to do the job. We are to do this even if it is something that we do not want to do, or even if it is small in nature because it is our job that we agreed to do. And it is our attitude in small matters that transcends into larger ones, and how we handle small matters determines how much we are entrusted with in the future. But todays Gospel has a slightly different tone. Todays Gospel, and in fact all the readings today are about one thing – duty.
Duty is defined as a moral or legal obligation; a responsibility. At a high level, the readings today are all about our duties we have as people, to be people of integrity and to do what is right even in times where we may not want to do the task or believe in the cause. But at a deeper level, the readings today are about our moral duty to worship God, and to do everything, even the things we do not like, in the name of Christ. Not only our duty to do what we are tasked to do, but the obligation to give thanks and be thankful for everything in our lives, because everything we have, everything we can do, everything we are good at is because of God. We should be forever thankful.
But how many times have we not wanted to do what we know we should do because we simply don’t like the task, our job, or who our boss is, or who is asking us? How many times have we just went through the motions because we want to take the easy way, or don’t like the person who asked us, or the reason it is for? The servant admits this in today’s Gospel when he says to the nobleman:
Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’
The servant did not agree with how his master operated, and was afraid because he was a demanding man. Yet, this servant chose to work for him. He knew he was demanding, and he knew his master had certain rules and expectations he expected his servants to live by. He had a choice. Life is all about choices. We all can relate to this in one way or another. We all have things we don’t like to do, or don’t want to do because we don’t like the person or reason it is for. We all have times when we are simply being selfish and don’t want to do it. In these cases, just like the servant, we have the choice to either do what is asked of us, or not. Too many times we don’t want to go by the rules or live by the limitations we have agreed to. And this is never more evident that in our faith. Too many times we agree to do something, but then we may feel that we shouldn’t be told what to do, or that we’re entitled to something more, or that we should be able to do what we like regardless of the task at hand and not be held accountable. But all of our actions have consequences in one way or another. A little later in the gospel, the master says:
‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’
A lot of times, we are afraid of demanding. When things get tough, many of us want to take the easy road, and don’t want to be held to a higher standard and be held accountable. At times we feel we have to right to do whatever they want. But our choices have consequences, for better or for worse. Sometimes we just have to do the things we don’t want to do, because we know it is the right thing to do. We know deep down, that by doing the right thing, we will eventually be rewarded. And this is not just in our jobs and personal life, but in our faith and spiritual lives as well. And that is the point today. If we don’t want Christ as our King, then we will be held accountable and have to suffer the consequences. Simply put.
We need to look at why we do things. Who do we do things for? Usually, if it is the easy road, we are doing it for ourselves. But if we choose to do what we know is right, regardless of how we feel about it, then we are doing it for God, because God is what is right. In those times where we do not want to do our job or a task that someone we don’t necessarily like asks of us, we’re doing it for God! How we treat these small matters dictates what we will be entrusted with in the future. In the end, it is our eternal life. If we continue to take the easy road and focus on ourselves and not do our moral and spiritual duty, we’re telling God that we don’t want Him as our king, that we can do it ourselves. The Gospel ends with this thought:
“Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.’”
If we choose ourselves before God, then we have no future. And this is what the first reading from Revelations talks about today. As strange as Revelations sounds and as hard as it is to understand, todays reading talks about how magnificent and awe inspiring Heaven is, with these strange creatures and elders worshiping God. There is so much symbolism and numerous messages that can be extracted from this reading, but the basic concept is that all living creatures should worship God because He created all things:
“Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things; because of your will they came to be and were created.”
And as the Psalm for today states, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Alleluia.”
God is the reason for everything. Our successes, our trials He allows, and everything in between. We need to give thanks to Him for everything in our lives, even in those things that we may not want to do, that we feel are below us or that we are entitled to more. It is our duty to do what is right in the eyes of God here in the natural world, and to do what we have been asked to do, even if it is not in “our” plan. It is our duty to forever be giving thanks to Christ for everything in our lives, so that we can give Him thanks eternally forever in Heaven.
