Gospel

Luke 19:11-28

While people were listening to Jesus speak,

he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem

and they thought that the Kingdom of God

would appear there immediately.

So he said,

"A nobleman went off to a distant country

to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return.

He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins

and told them, 'Engage in trade with these until I return.'

His fellow citizens, however, despised him

and sent a delegation after him to announce,

'We do not want this man to be our king.'

But when he returned after obtaining the kingship,

he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money,

to learn what they had gained by trading.

The first came forward and said,

'Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.'

He replied, 'Well done, good servant!

You have been faithful in this very small matter;

take charge of ten cities.'

Then the second came and reported,

'Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.'

And to this servant too he said,

'You, take charge of five cities.'

Then the other servant came and said,

'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.'

He said to him,

'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.'

And to those standing by he said,

'Take the gold coin from him

and give it to the servant who has ten.'

But they said to him,

'Sir, he has ten gold coins.'

He replied, 'I tell you,

to everyone who has, more will be given,

but from the one who has not,

even what he has will be taken away.

Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king,

bring them here and slay them before me.'"

After he had said this,

he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

Reflection

There's an image hidden in this reading that I only have recently discovered. These people are looking for the Kingdom of God to be established, to be finished so that they can receive all of its benefits. But it's clear what Jesus has in mind in terms of the kingdom of God is a process, a continual work, and the work is you and I have been gifted with something that's valuable.

Our task is to share it, and when we share the gift that God has given, we multiply it. And what’s clear in this king that has come to rule, this kingdom of God, is his intense desire that we are gifted so that we may be gifting others, not just afraid to make a mistake, but willing to put ourselves out there and whatever gift we have to share it with the most open and generous spirit.

That's the kingdom of God.

Closing Prayer

Father, bless us with an awareness of the things that we are given so that we can be clearly confident that they don't come from us, they come from you. Give us courage in generously sharing them with those around us. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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