Reversal and Responsibility

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to assess our true talent and calling that will be in harmony with the will of God to bring truth, beauty, and goodness to our environment.

Talent and Responsibility

The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians describes the paradox in the relationship of the Corinthians and Paul.

* [1:26–2:5] The pattern of God’s wisdom and power is exemplified in their own experience, if they interpret it rightly (1 Cor 1:26–31), and can also be read in their experience of Paul as he first appeared among them preaching the gospel (1 Cor 2:1–5).

* [1:29–31] “Boasting (about oneself)” is a Pauline expression for the radical sin, the claim to autonomy on the part of a creature, the illusion that we live and are saved by our own resources. “Boasting in the Lord” (1 Cor 1:31), on the other hand, is the acknowledgment that we live only from God and for God. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 33 praises the Greatness and Goodness of God.

* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew presents the Parable of the Talents.

* [25:14–30] Cf. Lk 19:12–27.

* [25:14] It will be as when…journey: literally, “For just as a man who was going on a journey.” Although the comparison is not completed, the sense is clear; the kingdom of heaven is like the situation here described. Faithful use of one’s gifts will lead to participation in the fullness of the kingdom, lazy inactivity to exclusion from it.

* [25:15] Talents: see note on Mt 18:24.

* [25:18] Buried his master’s money: see note on Mt 13:44.

* [25:20–23] Although the first two servants have received and doubled large sums, their faithful trading is regarded by the master as fidelity in small matters only, compared with the great responsibilities now to be given to them. The latter are unspecified. Share your master’s joy: probably the joy of the banquet of the kingdom; cf. Mt 8:11.

* [25:26–28] Wicked, lazy servant: this man’s inactivity is not negligible but seriously culpable. As punishment, he loses the gift he had received, that is now given to the first servant, whose possessions are already great.

* [25:29] See note on Mt 13:12 where there is a similar application of this maxim.

* [25:30] See note on Mt 8:11–12. (Matthew, CHAPTER 25 | USCCB, n.d.)

Mardell Wilson comments that God chose us, not because of our merits, but because of His grace. He chose us, not to make us proud, but to make us humble. He chose us, not to exalt ourselves, but to exalt Him. He chose us, not to be wise in our own eyes, but to be wise in His sight. He chose us, not to be righteous, sanctified, and redeemed by our own efforts, but by His work in us.

God chose me, not to boast in myself or the number of words in my Christmas program part, but to boast in the Lord.  I want to boast only in the Lord, who has given me everything I need in Christ Jesus, who is my wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Lord, thank you for choosing us by your grace, not by our achievements. Help us to resist the temptation to compare ourselves with others or to seek the approval of the world. Remind us that you love us and care for us, not because of what we can do, but because of who we are in Christ. Teach us to be humble and grateful for all that you have done for us. Let us boast only in you, Lord. Amen. (Wilson, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Eternal Joys,” by Gregory the Great (540-604 AD).

"All the good deeds of our present life, however many they may appear to be, are few in comparison with our eternal recompense. The faithful servant is put in charge of many things after overcoming all the troubles brought him by perishable things. He glories in the eternal joys of his heavenly dwelling. He is brought completely into the joy of his master when he is taken into his eternal home and joined to the company of angels. His inner joy at his gift is such that there is no longer any external perishable thing that can cause him sorrow." (excerpt from FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 9.2) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 reminds us that so often we assume God works only through the most impressive or gifted people. We want to be the strongest, the richest, the smartest. But in today’s first reading, St. Paul reminds us that God delights in using people who are lowly or forgotten: “God chose the weak . . . to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

This is the good news of the gospel! No matter how you feel or what others may say about you, God can work through you. In fact, he works most powerfully in your weakness as you rely on his grace and power. He can use your story, your gifts, and even your shortcomings to bless other people and help them grow.

Where do you feel weak today? Don’t let that keep you from saying yes to the Lord. Ask for his help, and open your mouth to tell of his goodness!

“Lord, I trust in you even when I feel weak. Help me to share your love today!” (Meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the texts of today.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Author Cole Arthur Riley who offers a prayer for those who have left spiritual spaces of certainty.

God of wisdom, 

It’s hard to know what to say to a God claimed by those who have wounded us. Can we trust you? We have known what it is to exist in spiritual spaces that are more interested in controlling us than loving us. To have the room turn against us when our beliefs diverge from the group’s. We thank you for giving us an interior compass, an intuition that no longer trusts spirituality that feels like captivity. Free us from those spaces. But as we depart, keep us from relinquishing our own connection to the divine. Help us to approach you slowly in the safety of our own interior worlds before granting another spiritual space access to us. And when we’re ready, guide us into new and safe communities—communities capable of holding our deepest doubts, our beliefs, the fullness of uncertainty, without being threatened. May we approach shrewdly and carefully, for our own protection, as we search for spaces that honor the whole of us. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek guidance of the Spirit as we navigate the paradox of talent and reversal of fortune through which we experience fullness of life on the path as followers of Christ.

References

Matthew, CHAPTER 25 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 31, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/25? 

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 31, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/08/31/1063767/ 

1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 31, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/1? 

Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 31, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?12 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Order, Disorder, Reorder: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 31, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/order-disorder-reorder-weekly-summary/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Master Will Settle His Account with Them. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 31, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=aug31 

Wilson, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved August 31, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/083124.html 

Wise and Foolish

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today alert us to the gift of Wisdom that the Spirit reveals to guide our celebration of full life in Christ.

Wisdom and the Race

The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians declares the Christ the Power and Wisdom of God through the Paradox of the Cross.

* [1:21–25] True wisdom and power are to be found paradoxically where one would least expect them, in the place of their apparent negation. To human eyes the crucified Christ symbolizes impotence and absurdity. (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 33 praises the Greatness and Goodness of God.

* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew presents the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids.

* [25:1–13] Peculiar to Matthew.

* [25:1] Then: at the time of the parousia. Kingdom…will be like: see note on Mt 13:24–30.

* [25:2–4] Foolish…wise: cf. the contrasted “wise man” and “fool” of Mt 7:24, 26 where the two are distinguished by good deeds and lack of them, and such deeds may be signified by the oil of this parable.

* [25:11–12] Lord, Lord: cf. Mt 7:21. I do not know you: cf. Mt 7:23 where the Greek verb is different but synonymous.

* [25:13] Stay awake: some scholars see this command as an addition to the original parable of Matthew’s traditional material, since in Mt 25:5 all the virgins, wise and foolish, fall asleep. But the wise virgins are adequately equipped for their task, and stay awake may mean no more than to be prepared; cf. Mt 24:42, 44. (Matthew, CHAPTER 25 | USCCB, n.d.)

Tom Lenz comments that when he first heard the parable about the ten virgins, he was a little taken aback. He thought they were just being mean and selfish – it didn’t make sense.

But as I stayed with it, I realized it was like how my parents guided me as a young boy. I would not truly know math unless I did it myself. And I cannot truly know God and the Kingdom of God unless I am active in the process. I can go to church, participate in the mass, and listen to the gospels, but unless I actively engage with the messages in my daily life [pray], then I will not really know God and what the Kingdom of God is at any kind of meaningful depth. And certainly not enough that will allow me to join in the wedding feast. (Lenz, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The Kingdom of God compared with ten maidens,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).

"The whole story is about the great day of the Lord, when those things concealed from the human mind will be revealed through our understanding of divine judgment. Then the faith true to the Lord's coming will win the just reward for unwavering hope. For in the five wise and five foolish virgins (Matthew 25:2), a complete separation between the faithful and unfaithful is established... The wise virgins are those who, embracing the time available to them, were prepared at the first onset of the coming of the Lord. But the foolish were those who were lax and unmindful. They troubled themselves only over present matters and, forgetting what God said, did not direct their efforts toward hope for resurrection." (excerpt from the commentary ON MATTHEW 27.3,5) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:17-25 comments that it can be so hard to understand what “Jesus, my Savior, the power and wisdom of God” means.

“When I look at the wars and violence in the world around me, Jesus, I wonder why you don’t intervene with your power to set everything right. I ask myself how you can bring anything good out of the prejudice, greed, and exploitation that ravage your people. But I am coming to understand that it’s when I see with your eyes that I can start to make sense out of it all. Even when I don’t understand now, I know that all my questions will one day be answered. You have the power to bring good out of everything, even woe. And in your wisdom, you will do it.”

“Lord, I place my trust in your tenacious and overwhelming love for me.” (Meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:17-25, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the texts of today.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Public theologian Jennifer Bailey who uses an agricultural metaphor to describe the waning landscape of religious institutions in the United States. She names the challenges of our time and how she finds inspiration for hopeful action.

The enormity of the plight we face can be solved only by harnessing the ingenuity and creativity of the communities to which we belong and are accountable. This season will require us to recover ancestral wisdom and practices that we lost or undervalued, repair the deep breaches in our interpersonal and communal relationships that replicate patterns of harm and destruction, and reimagine the possible by stretching ourselves to see beyond the realities of our current circumstances and daring to dream something different into being.  

These three words—recover, repair, and reimagine—remain at the center of my discernment process as I try to understand the evolution of my calling. My path is not linear. There are times I feel like I am chasing the shadow of something I cannot fully see. When I’m feeling particularly churchy, I wonder if that shadow is the Spirit of Divine Revelation. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the wisdom of the Spirit to guide our decisions and connect us to the action we need to prepare as followers of Christ.

References

Lenz, T. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved August 30, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/083024.html 

Matthew, CHAPTER 25 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/25? 

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:17-25. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 30, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/08/30/1063184/ 

1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/1? 

Psalms, PSALM 33 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Recover, Repair, Reimagine. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 30, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/recover-repair-reimagine/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Foolish Will Miss Heaven's Wedding Feast. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 30, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=aug30