Homily for the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
“The Master went on a journey and entrusted his possessions to his servants… After a long time, the master returned.” (see Mt 25) What does this “Parable of the Talents” say about our journey through the pandemic?
The one phrase that stands out in this parable, “After a long time, the master returned…”
Back the March, it felt like the master went away. When news of the pandemic first arrived, I was thinking in another news cycle or two it would be gone. And then when I started receiving cancellations for the retreats at the center where I work, I was thinking we’ll be back in operation May or June. Very few thought at that time that instead of a month or two, the pandemic would stretch out for maybe a year or more. Few thought that in November case counts would be growing.
In this prolonged delay, rather than turning to the Master, we are taking matters into our own hands. And sometimes we’re not doing a very good job.
We are confused. Do we wear a mask or not? Do we obey the Governor’s orders this Thanksgiving or not? Do we eat in a restaurant, workout in the gym, mingle at a social. Or do I just stay home and watch TV?
We are divided. In isolation, each person forms his or her own opinions. Our faith communities that once held us together have become fragmented. If someone we know happens to get COVID, suspicions arise. We want to know who is to blame!
We are in darkness. Without history as a guide, we don’t have a clear path forward. We don’t even know what the end goal is.
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The Master in the parable did not leave the servants to fend for themselves. Our Master did not leave us empty handed either.
In the parable, before the Master departed, he gave his servants some talents. A talent is a measure of precious metal that has immense value. Even the person who received just one talent received incredible wealth.
In the parable, two of the servants invested their talents to make more talents. They ‘doubled their money’. The third servant buried his talent in the ground. He did not even receive any interest.
The first two heard the words we all want to hear from the Master: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” The third heard the words we don’t want to hear from the Master: “You wicked and lazy servant.”
Just as the Master in the parable did not leave his servants empty handed, our Master did not leave us to fend for ourselves during this pandemic. The Master gave you and me talents to use to increase the kingdom, even now. In the parable, the kingdom had almost doubled in size while the Master was away. As the world navigates through the wilderness of this pandemic, the Master expects us to continue to use our talents to cause the kingdom to grow and prosper.
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We can think of the talents as the gifts God has given you – creativity, ingenuity, graciousness, hospitality – to use to build up the kingdom.
There is one talent that trumps all of the others. The more it is risked, the more the kingdom grows. The one talent we all have received is love.
In the midst of the world’s division, paranoia and confusion, our response as Christians needs to be rooted in love.
When I speak of love, I speak of the ancient definition of love by Saint Thomas Aquinas: Love is to will the good of the other.
By this definition, to love others requires risk, surrender, and sacrifice. When the Master comes to settle accounts, the questions might be: How did you risk your own interests for the good of another? How did you surrender your own self-importance for the good of another? What precious sacrifice did you make for the good of another?
Upon the Master’s return, the question might be: “How did you love, and did your love grow and multiply?”
In the midst of this crisis, undergird your discussion with love. As a starting point, when considering masking requirements, social distancing, indoor gatherings, contact tracing, ask yourself, “How are my thoughts, words and actions aimed at willing the good of the other.”
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I think part of the confusion and division in the world is because we’re acting like the Master has gone away on a long journey, and won’t be coming back. We’re acting like this is a problem we can solve without the Lord’s help. A mask and a vaccine may stop the disease from spreading. But a vaccine won’t heal the emotional and spiritual wounds inflicted by months of panic, fear, and confusion. Only love will.
Even in the midst of isolation, lockdowns, and social distancing, the Master expects you to find ways to love, and have your love multiply and expand the kingdom of God.