When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls. Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize. She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:10-12
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6
“The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'" Matthew 25:20-21
Piety
The soul would have no rainbow had the eye no tear. (Native American Proverb)
Study
Another reading that is NOT about the literal money that is the focus of the parable. The talents, a coin of the day, is only used metaphorically. This is more about how we use our God-given talents to build the Kingdom. Faithful use of our gifts will lead to participation in the building and the fullness of the kingdom; lazy inactivity will lead to our exclusion from the Kingdom.
As we approach the last two weeks in Ordinary Time for 2017, our readings turn to the year-end admonitions to be prepared. We can be going along all nice and happy until something unexpected happens. As “children of the light,” our faith helps us be prepared for whatever the future holds. “When people are saying, "Peace and security," then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
“Who among us has not had moments of great loss in life? The job is gone, the loved one dies, the life I expected to inherit is rudely snatched away. One minute things were normal and going according to plan. The next moment, life is mercilessly altered,” wrote Sr. Joan about when Mary and Joseph lost Jesus.[i] They experienced loss just like we do when they lost their special Son. Sr. Joan interprets the Fifth Joyous Mystery by reminding us that what is difficult, is not necessarily bad. The third servant was afraid of failure and what it might mean to his master. He reacted to disaster without the hope of faith. However, he learned that failure to try to make the most of the situation was more of an offense than was the failure to try to succeed.
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| The Presentation: A Model of Strength |
After the Annunciation, the nativity, and the Presentation, life apparently became routine for Mary and Joseph. They were, after all, a normal Jewish family in a normal Jewish town with normal Jewish routines and normal Jewish expectations in life.
“All of the signs of difference and uniqueness and chosen-ness had long since dimmed. Then, on one of the holy days, at the time of a regular Jewish festival, when people were returning to their homes together from the Temple in Jerusalem, the normalcy of life is suddenly shattered for them again. The child is missing. No one searches for a lost child in a casual manner.”[ii]
Mary and Joseph had to leave the caravan home to Bethlehem and go back – alone – to Jerusalem to find him. They had the typical knots in their stomachs felt by any parent looking for a lost child. Then…they find Jesus, seated in the middle of the rabbis and teaching the teachers.
“…they realize with terrible awareness that life has something new in store for them. Something which, like us, they do not understand. Mary of the Finding in the Temple is a model of trust for those of us who find the unexplainable and uninvited elements of life impossible to bear.”[iii]
Action
Is life routine for you? Are you leading a normal Catholic life in a normal American suburb with normal routines and expectations? The bus comes at 7:10 a.m. The lunch of tuna fish and yogurt is packed and ready to eat at your desk. The grocery store is still pretty empty at 8 am on a Saturday. The pews are still empty if you get to Mass 20 minutes early and don’t have to frantically find parking and seats together.
St. Paul reminds us to prepare for sudden disaster. Easier said than done when that disaster strike. Is your disaster named Harvey in Houston, or Marie in Puerto Rico? Or is your disaster named cancer or something else?
As we approach a new liturgical year, are you ready for what it has in store for you?
[i] “In Pursuit of Peace: Praying the Rosary Through the Psalms” by Joan D. Chittister, OSB. Erie, Pennsylvania. 1992. Pax Christi USA.
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Ibid.
Image credit: From the above pamphlet, by Mary Southard, CSJ, a Sister of St. Joseph of LaGrange, Illinois. Mary's work can be seen at http://www.marysouthardart.org/
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