Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 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 ten of his servants and gave them ten 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 ten additional ones.’
He replied, ‘Well done, good servant!
You have been faithful in this very small matter;
take charge of ten cities.’
Then the second came and reported,
‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’
And to this servant too he said,
‘You, take charge of five 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.’
He said to him,
‘With your own words I shall condemn you,
you wicked servant.
You knew I was a demanding man,
taking up what I did not lay down
and harvesting what I did not plant;
why did you not put my money in a bank?
Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’
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.’
He replied, ‘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.
Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king,
bring them here and slay them before me.'”
After he had said this,
he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.
He had the servants called
1. Jerusalem. Face your own Jerusalem. Confront your challenges head-on and make the important decisions that need to be made. Don’t fall into procrastination, don’t put off until tomorrow what needs to be addressed today. Go do what needs to be done, even if it means dealing with difficult situations or having hard conversations. Now is the moment to make those decisive choices that will shape your life, even if they’re uncomfortable.
2. Coin. Each of us has a purpose and a gift to offer in this world. You have a role to play, a task to fulfil and you’re not empty-handed—you have something valuable to share. Even when things seem to go wrong or you face hardships and things look bleak, don’t focus on what you lack. Instead, remember your strengths and how much you’ve already overcome. Life will always present challenges, but you are equipped to meet and overcome them.
3. To everyone who has. Living a productive life means actively engaging in your own growth. Don’t wait passively or dwell on what you don’t have. Productivity comes more from your attitude than from your circumstances or what you have. Ask Jesus today to inspire you with a positive attitude, so you can see the good in every experience and trust that something good is on the way.
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
