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 Godwould appear there immediately. So he said, “A nobleman went off to a distant countryto 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 downand 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 downand 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 himand 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
‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’
We all have choices. If we want to do well in school, we study. We are diligent in keeping up with the work/study assignments. There is no substitute for hard work, dedication, and a "never give up attitude". So in following God's Will, we don't say, "I am scared", "I am too old"," I don't think I can evangelize, planting seeds of faith for God".
If we want to expand, we have to show we are interested, willing to work and more will be entrusted to us. How many of us talk ourselves out of accomplishing great things because we procrastinate, hesitate, and just plain don't want to do it, yet, still want the rewards?
How do we conduct ourselves when alone? Do we cheat, lie, cut corners, pretend we are important while woefully lacking in what we do? God knows our deeds. He knows our prayers, reflections, what drives our hearts, if we are prideful, lazy, trusting, trustworthy and faithful.
Striving for God, may we be faithful in very small matters, investing in God's Will, spreading the good news of His Kingdom, persevering in our zeal. PAPA prays for priests to be on fire for Jesus and His Church, the Body and Bride of Christ. That is our sole purpose in praying for priests; their obedience to the Father's Will in small and big matters.
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