SEE THE GRACE OF GOD
God has
graciously given us the opportunity to put the possessions and gifts that He
entrusted to us to good use.
Today's
Gospel includes another parable about the return of Christ Jesus. This one
further explains how we should be prepared for His second coming. It requires
all of us to maintain positive and productive activity, utilizing the gifts our
heavenly Father has entrusted to us according to our abilities. The fact that
the two "good and faithful" servants both received the same reward
indicated that the quality of their activity is what counts, not the quantity
of what they achieve.
Such
committed, creative activity in response to God's grace enables "the
foolish of the world to shame the wise," as St. Paul wrote to the
Corinthians, and "the weak of the world to shame the strong" (1 Cor
1:27). The master said, "Be faithful in small matters and I will give you
greater responsibility." The problem with the third servant is not that he
failed to perform well enough; rather, he didn't trust that his master wanted
his talents and treasures to be spread and shared.
Grace
is always first; the final, condemning judgment is unnecessary. God has
graciously given us the opportunity to put the possessions and gifts that He
entrusted to us to good use. How might we live joyfully, not simply protecting
what our Father has given us, but spending it so that others see the grace of
God? From in Him our hearts rejoice. In His holy name we trust!