Wednesday of 33rd Week, odd numbered year
"While the people were listening to Jesus, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and he thought that the kingdom of God was going to show itself then and there. ’A man of noble birth went to a distant country to be appointed king and then return. He summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds, telling them, ’Trade with these, until I get back.’
As we wait for Jesus’ return, we want to faithfully live the values of the Kingdom, and bear witness to the fact that Jesus is already King. In today’s parable, each person only receives one pound, but certain got more out of it than others.God gives some gifts to others, and to others he gives special gifts just for them. At our baptism we all recieve the gift of faith, hope and love. It is up to us to make sure that these gifts grow and blossom forth so as to bear much fruit. We are God’s children and our heritage is the Kingdom of Heaven. We try our best to maintain these gifts by keeping our hearts fixed on heaven, by putting our confidence in Divine Providence, by loving God and showing this love through charity for our neighbour. Jesus takes us towards the Passion of his Love!
Some people cry out, near Jerusalem ’Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ And the following day we hear also ’Put him to death! Crucify him!’ And so everything we live brings us to the Kingdom of God and makes it come so long as we give our consent to accomplish in us God’s work.
“When he came back after having been appointed king, he sent for those servants to whom he had given money, to find out what profit each had made through trading. The first came in . ’Sir’he said, ’your one pound has brought in ten.’ Well done,’he replied,”my good servant! Since you have proved yourself trustworthy in a very small thing, you shall have the government of ten cities."
In this parable we see both the rejection of Jesus as king and the responsability of his friends during his absence. A mine of gifts has been given to each one
whereas the reward is given in proportion to what we do with them activly. God gives as a gift the same Salvation, the same Word, the same Spirit, without speaking of the various graces dispensed to each person. But not everyone has the same zeal in showing the value of these gifts for the Glory of their absent Master. For the secret of service is the Love that is felt for the One we serve. The greater this Love, the greater the devotion. Our calling is to become what we are : the Body of Christ and this is the means we have to accomplish our life. We are called to become through adoption Jesus Himself in His mystery. A few days away before the feast of Christ, King of the Universe, we are particularly concerned by this Word of God. From day to day, the liturgy of hours proposes to us to multiply the gifts we have receieved.
“When he had said this, Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.”
What serving the King of Glory for us means is that we bear fruit that remain and follow Jesus, who offers up his life on the mystery of the Cross! He is sent by the Father, fortified in the Holy Spirit, encouraged by Mary so that we may have Life. Mary accompanies Jesus as far as the Cross, she is a model for us. She was prefigured by the mother of the Martyrs of Israel who accompanies her sons who will give up their lives. ’ I am incapable of saying how you were formed in my womb. It wasn’t I who gave you spirit and life., who organised togetehr each element of what you are composed. It is the Creature of the world who forms the child right at the beginning. As for the last one : I carried you nine monthes in my womb. I gave you milk during three years, I nourrished you. I tell you, look to the Heavens.’ This lovely meditation is given to us for us to have a good earth whch will bear good fruit. May our face be conform to the One who created us and who loves us so that we walk towards the Father in confidnce and in Joy.