RISK!

Wednesday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

Lk 19:11-28

As if to emphasize more the point of last Sunday’s Gospel, Luke tells us again what Matthew narrated to us: The Parable of the Talents.

The third servant in the parable, who is punished by his master for not making an interest out of what is entrusted to him, is not a hardened criminal or a notorious sinner. He is punished not for anything bad he did, but for the good he did not do. His reason: fear.

The third servant in the parable fears his master very much. He is afraid to invest the money given him because he is afraid of his master who may punish him just the same in case he does not only not make interest but, worse, lose the whole amount entrusted to him. He is afraid to risk. But unless he risks, he will not make any profit. Thus, he did nothing evil by hiding his master’s money in a linen for safety, but by doing so, he likewise did not do anything good with what has been entrusted to him.

In the same way, fear is our greatest enemy in living our lives to the full. Fear, likewise, will bring upon us our own perdition if we allow it to rule our lives. Fear harms us, paralyzes us, and kills us.

What is the antidote to fear?

Love is the antidote to fear. St. Paul wrote, “Perfect love drives away all fears.” When we love somebody, we are not afraid to risk everything, including life, for him. When we are assured that the other loves us, we are not afraid to risk as well. Taking risks is inevitably essential to loving. And love is the antidote to fear.

The king in the parable today appears to be an unlovable and unloving person. That is the main difficulty of the third servant. He is ruled by fear of his master because he has little love for him and apparently vice-versa. The king in the parable today obviously does not stand for God. Parables are not meant to make direct analogies.

God is ever lovable and loving. So, why be afraid of Him? Risk!