Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

There is an advertisement on television at the moment for a particular brand of fried chicken that starts out with a familiar Hollywood trope. Two young men are surveying the scene of last night's party. In a mild panic they begin rushing to clean everything up before mum and dad get home. Then, one of them then spots the advertisement for a chicken deal in a magazine that's been knocked to the floor.

Cut to the young men reveling in fried chicken that is so good, that they forget all about cleaning up the night before. And about the trust that has been placed in them by their parents.

In the Gospel this Sunday Jesus reassures his disciples that there is no need to worry - that God's kingdom is open to them. But, at the same time He seems to chide them with an extended parable about a steward that becomes distracted from his duties, takes advantage of the trust placed in him, and mistreats his fellow servants. Don't rely on there still being time to make amends, or tidy up before the master gets home, He tells them. Or you will suffer the same fate.

The disciples are disturbed and want to know whether this chastisement is for them, or for all people. I can imagine them looking at one another, wondering 'What have we done wrong?!!'

Jesus doesn't give them the direct answer they are looking for, but a broad warning. From those that have received much, much more will be expected.

Both we and the disciples have received a great deal. We have received the Good News that our God loves us and that the Kingdom of heaven is open for us. That grace is freely given, and we cannot earn it.

But this parable of the self-consumed servant is a stark reminder that, although the fruits of God's grace cannot be earned, they can be lost, by our own action (or inaction). It reminds us of who we are, co-heirs with Christ. And that the life to which we have been called is one of loving and serving others as we are loved - sharing the Good News that we have received. And that the time to do this is now, not some more convenient day in the future.

I pray that, in the busyness of life, I can be more faithful to this lesson - to always live a life of loving service to the Good News - no matter how tempting the distractions may be!

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