Thirty-Threeth Sunday of Ordinary Time/A
Massimo Palombella
In today’s Gospel (Mt 25:14-30) Jesus, with the parable of the talents, silently challenges us to a very profound dimension of our lives. In fact, it is interesting to note that the servant who does not produce anything with the talent received (and probably of all servants he was the most capable, the most intelligent, precisely because he received “only” one talent and therefore, of all, he was the most “challenged”) justifies himself by saying that he was “afraid”. Fear can become in an imperceptible way the only real decisive criterion in my life. I am afraid of making mistakes, of failing, of the judgement of others, of binding myself, of “daring”. And even though I was once able to overcome fear, and I graduated, got married, had children, started a new job, fear attacks my life, constantly tempting me towards a mediocre existence.
In order to live fully, in order to make my talents bear fruit, I must be able to go beyond the horizons of an education I have received, beyond the consolidated habits that make me feel calm and safe, beyond the acquired academic certainties, beyond the notion of “good” and “evil” I have received. In essence, it is only “beyond” that God awaits me, and to take this step, at every age of life, I find myself facing fear, being tempted by fear which very often deceives and paralyses me with things that are objectively true, but ordered in a false way.
I may find myself a prisoner of fear, and I will remain so until I call my fear by name, until I have the humility to ask for help and trust. Exactly here the Lord awaits each one of us with infinite mercy to give us true life, a life worth living.
The Communion antiphon for today’s celebration is taken from chapter 25 of Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 25:20, 21) with the following text:
“Domine, quinque talenta tradidisti mihi:
ecce, alia quinque superlucratus sum.
Euge, serve fidelis, quia in pauca fuisti fidelis,
supra multa te constituam:
intra in gaudium Domini tui.”
(Lord, you delivered five talents unto me;
behold, I have gained five more.
Well done, good and faithful servant; because you have been faithful over a little,
I will set you over much;
enter into the joy of your Lord).
The attached music, in Gregorian Chant, is taken from the Graduale Triplex published in Solesmes in 1979. The music track can be found on YouTube where there is no indication of interpretation.
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
