Focus
As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.
Read
11 As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 So he said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. 13 He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’ 14 But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading. 16 The first came forward and said, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.’ 17 He said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.’ 18 Then the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ 19 He said to him, ‘And you, rule over five cities.’ 20 Then the other came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.’ 24 He said to the bystanders, ‘Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ 25 (And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds!’) 26 ‘I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.’”
Reflect
In the Christian life, it is tempting to simply refrain from doing evil. That is what the Pharisees did. They built up laws around God’s Laws to ensure that they did not break a single commandment. The problem is that they rarely rose above the Law either. They may not have killed, or stolen, or lied, but neither did they give life, show compassion, or use their words to edify others.
Being faithful to God is not simply restraining from evil, but it is also living out our calling in the world. We are to out those gifts God gave us to use in partnering to redeem the world.
What have you been faithful with on God’s behalf?
Pray
God, this is a hard parable to swallow. We call for justice and the king replies, that to those who have much, a lot more will be given. We call for mercy and the king calls, for his enemies to be slaughtered. Perhaps this parable does not focus on the king so much as it does the servants. Perhaps this parable calls us to be bold and to take risks for the kingdom of heaven here on earth. Help us to do the most we can do with the things over which we are stewards. Amen.
Go with God!
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