Wednesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
As the liturgical year comes to an end, the readings push us toward an eschatological view of the world. This is important, not because the end of the World is imminent, yet the end of days marks the end of this seasonal cycle. The first reading today continues in the book of Revelation. John was called upon by a voice from heaven and given a vision. The imagery of this vision describes the scene in a trumpet like voice. In vivid detail the picture portrayed is one where an angel takes the visionary through a large door into heaven. The scene that unfolds is one of the heavenly court and all its attendants.
The author of Revelation describes that which can barely be described with beautiful language. “On the throne sat one whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian.” The one who sat on the throne appeared like the sparkling of a precious gemstone. This heavenly journey is one which we all hope to make some day. It is a foretaste of what is to come.
Part of this preview of heaven is includes the song exclaimed in the first reading and echoed in the psalm. “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.” (Rev. 4:8b) “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, mighty God!” (Psalm 150: 1b.) It is no coincidence then that we sing that these similar words as an acclamation, “The Sanctus” at Mass. It is a connection to the heavenly choir that joins our voices at our Eucharistic liturgies.
The gospel is familiar especially in that we read the Matthean version this past Sunday. In Luke, this parable of the talents becomes one of the Gold coins. A man is going on a journey and he entrusts servants with ten, five and one gold coins. The servants each must decide how to “engage in trade”. Upon their master’s return, each servant reports their accomplishment or their lack of. The Master rewards those who have invested well and punishes those who haven’t. For Luke, the issue is how one uses their material possessions in response to the Lord’s generosity.
Our reflection today could lead us to think about our own use of money, yet it seems that the other readings call us to something broader. How is it that we invest the whole of our self into our journey of faith? Is our faith life drawn upon throughout each day? Does this journey lead us to holiness? Or are we like the servant paralyzed by fear? What is it that makes us afraid? Let us offer our fears to the Lord, and ask that the Lord guide us today to find new ways to invest our whole self into being holy.
-Michael Montgomery