St John the Evangelist Parish

November 19, 2023

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

I hated playing Monopoly as a kid because my siblings and friends always seemed to win. But worse was how it happened. Scared to risk my fake money on buying properties, I’d hold on to it. My opponents hungrily bought up the various real estate squares on the board. Then, my poor, low-equity self would inevitably land on their spots, pay them rent, and my money would drain to zero. It seemed so unfair. The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. I had to learn that monopoly money is meant to be spent. I was scared to lose some of it. So, I lost all of it.

How do we see what we possess? Jesus’ parable about the talents is not really about economics but about the investability of everything he entrusts to us. How marvelous that everyone in the fable who places talents in the open market doubles their investment. The only one who doesn’t is the man who fearfully buries his one talent. Jesus’ success strategy for us seems to be, whatever we have, get it out of our possession. Risk it as quickly and as fully as we can.

You and I have precious gifts. We have valuable things to invest in — time, talents, and treasure. The Lord invites us to be brave and even somewhat reckless, to give as much away as possible. It will grow if we give it away in the direction of love and truth. If we hold on to it in fear, the little we have will be taken away. Let me challenge you this week: find something in your life you’re holding on to, and risk it by giving it away. It won’t double if you hold on to it.