All That We Have

A Reflection on the Gospel for November 15th, 2020:
Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

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MATTHEW
25:14-30

"For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'
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Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

The suffering, pain, and sadness in our world and in our lives can sometimes feel like too much to bear. In a year like this one, it might feel that way a bit more often than sometimes. And this can be pretty disorienting, exhausting, and discouraging.

This got me thinking about what it means to be “faithful over a little” (Matthew 19:21). The truth is, “a little” is all that any of us have. And, truthfully, some days it feels like less than that. 

Years ago, I came across the following quote shared by an organization I encountered that works for advocacy and peace. I tried to determine the original source of the quote, but it is a bit unclear. The best I could work out is that it is a combination of Jewish teaching and part of the Old Testament, a verse from the book of Micah: 

“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” 

I find this endlessly encouraging. On any given day, the only thing I can really do is love the person in front of me. And that is all we are asked to do. 

That said, I still screw this up all the time. But, thankfully, God is infinitely patient, merciful, understanding, and loving. He promises us that His mercies are new every morning. He knows our limits and He does not hold them against us.

Our ability to love others may falter, but God’s does not. Our human brains are just not capable of understanding the depth of love God has for every single person — past, present, and future — a love that is truly unconditional. In the face of suffering, pain, and sadness, both in and around us, He promises us that we are known and we are loved and we are held.

Praise God. Thanks be to God.




Morgan M.

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