A reading of the holy Gospel according to Lk 19:11-28
While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said, “A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, ‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’ He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’ Then the second came and reported, ‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’ And to this servant too he said, ‘You, take charge of five cities.’ Then the other servant came and said, ‘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; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’ He said to him, ‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. 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? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’ And to those standing by he said, ‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ He replied, ‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.’” After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.
REFLECTION
‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Many of us act out in fear. Fear that we have little talents and people will laugh at us, we will be humiliated or that we will fail. Fear can be a large part of our lives. So many prefer not to share their talents and sit by the wayside watching those who have similar talents advance or those who have many talents excel.
Today, let us reflect on the gifts given to us by God and how we are using them for our brothers and sisters. It is usually that first step and that first mistake that will help us continue and invest so that we can gain more in our capacities, or ability to do something. In this world we give so much accolades to the athletes, the movie stars, the super talented and forget that everyone has received from God. To have more or to give more is the question. Do we amass so that we are secure or do we let go so that we can give and share?
What does the Gospel tell us to do?
NOBODY BY CASTING CROWNS
Why You ever chose me Has always been a mystery All my life I've been told I belong At the end of the line With all the other not-quites With all the never-get-it-rights But it turns out they're the ones You were looking for All this time 'Cause I'm just a nobody Trying to tell everybody All about Somebody Who saved my soul Ever since You rescued me You gave my heart a song to sing I'm living for the world to see Nobody but Jesus I'm living for the world to see Nobody but Jesus Moses had stage fright When David brought a rock to a sword fight You picked twelve outsiders nobody would have chosen And You changed the world Well the moral of the story is Everybody's got a purpose So when I hear that devil start talking to me saying "Who do you think you are?" I say I'm just a nobody Trying to tell everybody All about Somebody Who saved my soul Ever since You rescued me You gave my heart a song to sing I'm living for the world to see Nobody but Jesus I'm living for the world to see Nobody but Jesus So let me go down, down, down in history As another blood-bought faithful member of a family And if they all forget my name, well that's fine with me I'm living for the world to see Nobody but Jesus So let me go down, down, down in history (Goin' down in history) As another blood-bought faithful member of a family (That's all I ever wanna be) And if they all forget my name, well that's fine with me I'm living for the world to see Nobody but Jesus 'Cause I'm just a nobody Trying to tell everybody All about Somebody Who saved my soul (Gonna save, gonna save my soul) Ever since You rescued me You gave my heart a song to sing (You gave me a song to sing) I'm living for the world to see Nobody but Jesus (Nobody but You, Lord) I'm living for the world to see Nobody but Jesus I'm living for the world to see Nobody but Jesus
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Emily Shackelton / Matt Rogers / Zach Abend Nobody lyrics © Chatawa Music, Sony/atv Countryside, Highly Combustible Music, House Of Story Music Publishing, Nepasongs, Songs Of Peer Ltd, One77 Songs, Big Bendable Music, Xeva Music, Works By Pure Note Songs
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