Wednesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
This reading from Maccabees is particularly hard to hear: the martyrdom of the seven brothers under the evil King Antiochus. The gruesome narrative speaks to the heroic endurance of martyrs. The brothers make clear that they know the one they should fear. According to Jesus much later: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna” (Matthew 10:28).
This is why the servant in the gospel parable, who refuses to invest and increase the coin given to him by his demanding master, is to be reviled. His fear does not spur him to action but instead avoidance. Ultimately, the problems he fears do not disappear but grow much worse. Mediocrity is its own vice.
Repeatedly, the Lord states God’s love for the small and weak, but not the mediocre. We are called to meet and then grow our capacity to receive more from God. However, refusing to reach that capacity is unacceptable. The readings tell us that we cannot avoid judgment forever. May fear give way to love and may action be perfected by grace.
Reflection by Fr. Pachomius Meade, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections