Labor Day Thoughts

HOMILY NOTES, FR. TERRY RYAN, CSP

MATTHEW 25: 14-30

This is a story about a guy who got rich foreclosing on other people’s farms, then harvesting after the crops had been planted by the previous owner who could not pay off the debt.  So the owner is going off on an excursion.  He has three servants who he trusts with making some profit as he did.  So he gives each a specific amount to get them started.  To the shrewdest he gives the most, five talents (money).  To another, not quite so bright he gives two and to another who might be least good with money he gives one talent.  Then off the owner goes.  

The fellow with the five goes and doubles his money.  The one with the two goes and doubles his money.  They were well taught by the master.  Bu the guy who had one talent buried it in the ground.  Which one do you admire the most?  I admire the one who buried it in the ground, because I think he is the one who is most growing up and becoming all he was made to be.  Why?  Well, when the master comes back he praises the first two fellows.  They are just like the master.  But the third guy, the one I like, does two things that I think more important than becoming rich.  One, he tells the truth.  He tells his master just what his master is, a guy who makes money off of the work and bad fortune of others, to which the master agrees.  Two, he expresses his feelings when he says that he buried the money out of fear.  

I know people who make a lot of money but they are not very honest and that don’t talk on the level of feelings or the affective level.  They might talk about business, world events, sports, art, culture, home decorating, cooking, but not about truth and feelings when it could make them vulnerable.  They might be accomplished persons, but not very grown up.  This might be safe, as we see that the honest servant got thrown out into the darkness.  But I believe that God is in the darkness and will find me.  Jesus was honest and look what it got him.  But he says. “Come, follow me.”  I would rather be in the darkness, than hide out in plain sight.