Yield a High Return on Your Investments

From the Catholic Liturgy for the 33^rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Nov. 19, 2017. OT33A Matthew 25:14-30 Parable of the Talents. Theme: High Returns on Your Investment

Last December, at the end of the special Year of Mercy, Pope Francis decided to keep its spirit and purpose alive among us by declaring that every year onward, the 33^rd Sunday of Ordinary Time every would be observed by the Catholic Church as The World Day of the Poor.  And so, we are observing it for the first time today. 

How does Pope Francis ask us to observe World Day of the Poor and extend it throughout the year? By heeding today’s gospel about making the investment of ourselves in the service of all who suffer poverty in any of its forms, material and spiritual. And the like the servants in today’s Gospel, we can respond to this challenge in two different ways: We can do nothing, focusing on ourselves and our own needs, just like the servant who buried his talents out of fear. Or we can take a risk and be like the servants who in their desire to please their Master made a double on their returns.

And so I think we need to ask ourselves: what does it mean to take a risk as a Christian? I think it means to step outside the box, outside of our comfort zone, and do something that is a bit of a challenge for us. Christians who take this risk are like those who respond to Pope Francis’ plea to take up the Gospels daily and prayerfully read them, taking the risk of allowing the Gospel change their lives and not letting it remain just words on a printed page. They ponder Christ’s words and example, absorbing what they read, reflecting on it in their hearts, applying it to their own outlook and behavior. They take on a new way of thinking, a new way of looking at the world, a new way of living. They want to make the world a better place by focusing on their own little slice of life among those with whom they live, work and socialize.

Now, when someone is going to make a risky investment, they do some research and find the best place to put their money. In the same way, when we are taking a risk with our lives we have to do so with someone who is trustworthy and promises a sure return. We find this person and this promise in Jesus, who gives us the certainty of God’s Word that the investment of our lives with Him will yield much more back to us in grace and blessings. In the gospel, we learn that only way this investment of our lives for the service of the poor will be get results is by allowing Jesus to live within us and touch others through us.

How can this happen since we are just human beings and on our own we have no power to reach into anyone’s heart and transform their lives? We have a hard enough time transforming our own lives!  But Jesus knew that and this is exactly why He gave us the precious gifts of the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Eucharist. These two sacraments enable Jesus to live and act and serve others through us.

Confession removes the spiritual junk and obstacles that muddy our relationship with Jesus and others. It gets us, our egos, out of the way and lets Him take over. It motivates us to do good things for others as a way of making up for the selfishness of our past sins. The Eucharist, Jesus truly present among us and within us by means of Holy Communion, opens wide the doors of our hearts to Him.  The thoughtful and prayerful reception of the Blessed Sacrament is a way of saying to Him, “Come on in, live within me, touch the lives of others through me.” And the more we receive Jesus with faith and love, the more He lives within us, and the more He can touch others through us.

So, let’s pray today,  on this first World Day of the Poor, for all who are suffering all forms of poverty in the world.  But let’s also pray for the grace to be people who take a risk and put an end to our own spiritual poverty and laziness.  Let’s ask for a renewed understanding of the supernatural power of the sacraments, so that we can allow the Risen Lord Jesus to minster to others through us.  Let’s ask for the grace to make Jesus and his Gospel a reality in our everyday lives so that we can truly be bearers of Christ and instruments of mercy, justice and peace to those with whom we live, work, worship and socialize.