20 November 2019 - beyond our fears

Today's Readings

(Audio)

'Sir, here is your gold coin;
I kept it stored away in a handkerchief,
for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man;

Fear causes us to close in on ourselves. It immobilizes us and makes us ineffective and unproductive as we await the nobleman's return to claim the kingship. We find ourselves imprisoned by fear, stuck in holding patterns we can't seem to break.

You knew I was a demanding man,
taking up what I did not lay down
and harvesting what I did not plant;
why did you not put my money in a bank?

We may feel like the man given a single coin is justified in his fear of the nobleman. After all, it seems like the man given the least is punished for his failure. But the real problem here is that the man doesn't trust in the nobleman's gift. The coin can bring the nobleman a return all on its own. Yet the man to whom it is given insists that it had something to do with him. It is a sort of inverted pride that causes him to hide and take no action.

Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.

What treasures has the LORD given to us and what are we doing with them? The more we step into using the charisms we have been given the more abundance we discover, the less our own obvious and real limitations seem to matter.

Ultimately even our lives and gifts from the LORD, meant to be invested in one way or another to bring maximal return to the King.

Do not be afraid of this executioner,
but be worthy of your brothers and accept death,
so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with them.

In one way or another we are given the grain of wheat that must die to give life. Death is investing in the cross of Christ, to which we are all called in different ways. When we realize that all we have is from the LORD we become more bold in our readiness to give it away.

then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things;
and in the same way the human race came into existence.

The King is coming with rich recompense for all who will trust in the gifts he has given. These are the good works prepared in advance for us, that we may walk in them (see Ephesians 2:10). It is in fully accepting our gifts and using them for these works prepared for us that we prepare ourselves for the King's return. We will not be so busy looking at ourselves that we are afraid to welcome him.

But I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking, I shall be content in your presence.