Our readings this weekend focus more and more on the end of all things as we drift towards the end of the liturgical year, which takes place on the day before the first Sunday of Advent. And, just as we attempt to settle our affairs and package everything as we come to the end of our lives, so Holy Church invites us to manage and settle our spiritual affairs as we envision the end of this world and the ultimate futility of the affairs of this world. So, our second reading this weekend concerns that oddity of the Thessalonian church, many of whom seem to have thought that the Great Judgement that the Jews called the ‘Day of the Lord’ had already taken place, probably on Good Friday; but S. Paul tells them that this Great Reckoning is still in the future, and that they must continue to be vigilant and prayerful, waiting for the return of Christ – His Second Coming.
“There is no need, brethren, to write to you about the times and the seasons of all this; you are keeping it clearly in mind, without being told, that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. It is just when men are saying, ‘All quiet, all safe,’ that doom will fall upon them suddenly, like the pangs that come to a woman in travail, and there will be no escape from it. Whereas you, brethren, are not living in the darkness, for the day to take you by surprise, like a thief; no, you are all born to the light, born to the day; we do not belong to the night and its darkness. We must not sleep on, then, like the rest of the world, we must watch and keep sober; night is the sleeper’s time for sleeping, the drunkard’s time for drinking; we must keep sober, like men of the daylight. We must put on our breastplate, the breastplate of faith and love, our helmet, which is the hope of salvation.”
First letter of S. Paul to the Thessalonians, 5: 1-8 [link]
Our gospel story today contains a parable about investments. The parable itself speaks of a monetary investment, but we can easily read spiritual blessings into it. A silver talent in the ancient world was an enormous sum of money, let’s say the value of a medium-sized family car today. Now, when we were baptised, we were given a priceless treasure – a strong belonging to the Holy One Himself, and a share in the several promises made by Christ to the Church through His Apostles. But setting this first great investment aside, we are all given regularly a spiritual principal amount – not unlike the men in the gospel story – always apportioned to our abilities.
“‘So it was with a man who went on his travels; he called his trusted servants to him and committed his money to their charge. He gave five talents to one, two to another, and one to another, according to their several abilities, and with that he set out on his journey. The man who had received five talents went and traded with them, until he had made a profit of five talents more; and in the same way he who had received two made a profit of two. Whereas he who had received but one went off and made a hole in the ground, and there hid his master’s money.
Gospel of S. Matthew, 25: 14-18 [link]
And so we have the great sin of acedia, or apathy, or perhaps sloth. Burying in the ground what could have been used and promoted growth. We have heard of the great Saints of the Church – say Padre Pio, S. Therese, and so on. They were given greater spiritual gifts than, say, you or me. It would be foolish to think that the spiritual burden of Padre Pio could be borne by me, or that of Therese be borne by one of you. No, for the Holy One knows what we are capable of, and makes an investment. And he wants us to take that investment and bring forth fruit – fruit that will last. The gospel stories are full of good servants, and capable householders, who take up the trust and responsibility given them by their masters. But there are also stories about incompetent stewards and lazy workers, who waste time and money often in petty and selfish ways. The ideal of the Christian soul, who carefully manages investments and brings forth returns is given by the Good Wife of the first reading, the brilliant last chapter of the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament.
“A man who has found a vigorous wife has found a rare treasure, brought from distant shores. Bound to her in loving confidence, he will have no need of spoil. Content, not sorrow, she will bring him as long as life lasts. Does she not busy herself with wool and thread, plying her hands with ready skill? Ever she steers her course like some merchant ship, bringing provision from far away. From early dawn she is up, assigning food to the household, so that each waiting-woman has her share. Ground must be examined, and bought, and planted out as a vineyard, with the earnings of her toil. How briskly she girds herself to the task, how tireless are her arms! Industry, she knows, is well rewarded, and all night long her lamp does not go out. Jealously she sets her hands to work, her fingers clutch the spindle. Kindly is her welcome to the poor, her purse ever open to those in need. Let the snow lie cold if it will, she has no fears for her household; no servant of hers but is warmly clad.”
The book of Proverbs, 31: 10-21 [link]
The power of the biblical woman as given here was not in her ability to do everything her male counterpart was capable of and do it better. Rather, her work complemented his role in society, and hers was the efficient management not only of a home but of a large household of dependants and associates. The reading demonstrates how she is invaluable, how her husband is utterly reliant upon her expertise, how she works with her own hands to provide for her family, how she is intimately involved with charitable works, how she is wise in both word and deed.
So also like her is every Christian soul called to be in her life of devotion and prayer, for it would please the Holy One immensely to see our pursuit of wisdom and our spiritual industry on behalf of His Church but also on behalf of the whole world, and to make use of our faculties in word and deed to draw more souls to Him, and so further His reign on earth.
Catholic Louth and Mablethorpe 