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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Engage in trade

Engage in trade

Published Nov 21, 2023 04:08 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Gird your loins

The parable of the Gold Coins suggests that Jesus’ return is not very imminent as some believers believed then. In the intervening time, the servants are given gold coins (“talents” in Matthew) to engage in trade. On the spiritual level, they are entrusted with the care of the community’s “wealth of faith.” More precious than gold coins are the deposit of faith. Church leaders, the elders and overseers (Greek episcopoi), are expected not only to be keepers of faith and guardians of sound doctrine; they are also to lead people in loving God and neighbor. St. Paul has this final word to his disciple given the care of believers: “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you” (1 Tm 6:20).

Gospel • Lk 19:11-28 
While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said, “A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called 10 of his servants and gave them 10 gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, ‘Sir, your gold coin has earned 10 additional ones.’ He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of 10 cities.’ ... Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’ … And to those standing by he said, ‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ ‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.’ ” …

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

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