Great Insights Into The Gospel Reading For Today
But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. When the lord asked this servant to give an accounting, all he could offer were excuses. He said: 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. This last servant represents man when he is not faithful to God. This person is overcome with fear and self-love. He attempts to justify his behavior by alluding to the purportedly unjust expectations of the lord who reaps where he has not sown. The master angrily responds to this lazy fellow: You wicked and slothful servant! He had disregarded an essential truth — that man was created to know, love and serve God in this life. Then he is to see him and possess him in Heaven. When God is known well, it is not hard to love him. And when God is truly loved, it is not difficult to serve him. Nor is it humiliating. In fact, it even becomes a pleasure to serve him. A person who truly loves does not even think that it is degrading and dishonorable to serve his beloved He never feels humiliated while serving the one he loves. Now then, the third servant knew his master well. At least he had had as many opportunities to know him as the other two servants had And in spite of that it is obvious that he did not love him. And when love is missing, serving becomes very difficult. We can see into this servant's heart from his cold description of the master as a hard man.
This lazy servant did not serve his master because of an absence of love. It is interesting to note that the opposite of laziness is diligence. The Latin root of diligence is diligere, to love, to choose after careful study. Love motivates a person to give true service. Laziness is the result of a failure to love. The Lord uses this parable to reprove those who either fail to develop their gifts, or pervert their use for the sake of self-love. Let us examine our conduct today. How do we use our time? Are we punctual and orderly in our work? When we are at home, do we give our full attention to family matters? Do we practice a lively apostolate of friendship and confidence? Are we seriously striving to extend the Kingdom of Christ to all souls?
from In Conversation With God by Francis Fernandez Volume 5 pp. 471-472
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