Wednesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Holy, holy, holy.
These words echo through the first reading and through the responsorial psalm. The four living creatures that stand before the throne, which resemble a lion, a calf, a man, and an eagle, all recite these words continuously before God. In today’s Gospel, we hear Luke’s take on the story of the talents in Matthew’s Gospel from Sunday. Here Jesus speaks about a nobleman who gave ten gold coins to his servants, and the story follows a similar vein as Matthew’s Gospel. There are some striking differences though.
In Luke’s account, the servants received less than the servants in Matthew’s Gospel. They each only receive one gold coin, yet one is able to raise it to ten coins, the next earns enough to have five gold coins and the last hides his coin in a handkerchief. Two servants in Luke’s account were able to do more with less. Another thing to notice is that the nobleman is rejected by the people of his kingdom who do not accept him as their king. He obtains the kingship and, when he returns, he demands that those who rejected him be slain, for he regards them as enemies.
Today’s Gospel ends with Jesus proceeding towards Jerusalem. He would face reflection just as the noble does in his story. Jesus would also “attain the kingship” once he rose from the dead. He is the Eternal King who calls all of us to His glory. How sad to think that anyone would reject so great a king!
We will almost certainly face rejection for believing in the Gospel, sometimes from other Christians. The question is how well do we face rejection? Are you prepared to endure persecution and rejection on your way to participating in the redemptive glory of Jesus?
Reflection by Br. Matthew Marie, OSB
Posted in Articles for Lent, Daily Reflections, Lenten Resources