Homily: Thirty-third Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Thirty-third Wednesday of Ordinary Time (Lk. 19:11-28) “I Won’t Play the Game”

Parables can be interpreted in a variety of ways. When we read a parable, we can put ourselves in the parable and picture how we might respond.

In the parable about the King and servants we read today we hear an echo of other parables of the same type in the Gospels (Mt. 25: 14 ff). We might look for Jesus in this parable. Where is he?

Would Jesus have been the King who punished the servants who did not perform the way he wanted them to? Would he have slayed all the servants at the end of the story. Somehow this does not sound like the Jesus we know.

I once heard an interesting interpretation of this parable. The person writing about the parable felt that Jesus was the last servant, the one who gave the gold coin back to the impatient king. In this interpretation Jesus refuses to participate in the king’s little game. Jesus isn’t interested in making money or currying favor.

As we know Jesus was slain at the end of his life. It seemed like Jesus was the loser in the power games that were played by those in authority. When Jesus died on the cross it seemed like the rich had gotten richer and the powerful more powerful. That was the case if we judged things by earthly standards.

Jesus hung on to his integrity. He would not compromise his values. He lost the contest for power, popularity and possessions, but he won a glorious crown. He lost his life in order to gain eternal life. In the end God raised him up.

The kingdom of Jesus is not about success in this life. The Kingdom of Jesus is about spurning the things of earth in order to reach for a more valuable prize, the Kingdom of Heaven.

Reflection Questions:

1.    Has this parable ever made you uncomfortable? Why?

2.    Do holy people ever enjoy earthly success? Will they pursue it?

 Dear Parishioners,

           Keep in mind that there will be one Mass on Thanksgiving Day and that will be at 8 a.m. During that Mass we will have a food collection. You are invited to bring a canned good that will be given to the food pantry.

          We have Mass at 8 a.m. so you can go to holiday activities afterward or start cooking the Thanksgiving turkey. Beginning Thanksgiving the pilgrims did, with a church service, would seem to be an appropriate way to start the day. Make your plans to be with us for Mass today.

          May Our Lady of Peace pray for our world today.

          Fr. Mark