YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR CHOICE: RISK OR PERISH.

November 15, 2020
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time - A.

READINGS: PRV 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; PS 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; 1THES 5:1-6; MT 25:14-30.

A Senegalese proverb says, “It is only the eagle that can give an account of the whisper of the cloud.” And a Japanese proverb adds, “Even a fool has one talent.”

Discussing one day with a friend, he asked me about judgment and damnation, how can we understand the mercy of God in front of the reality of hell? My answer to him was: ‘It is not God who judges and condemns us, but our actions and choices. Therefore, we should take the risk to dare the good always and show love to anyone we meet if we dream of heaven. For, hell is the fruit of our choice.’

The Catechism of the Catholic Church comes in great support to this answer when it states: “Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification or immediately, or immediate and everlasting damnation. At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love” (CCC.1022).

Today’s liturgy, 33rd Sunday of the year A, tells us clearly that only the one who takes no risk to do good is condemned. It is therefore a duty for each of us to work for our salvation by exercising ministries in our communities, our societies, and in the world. Heaven is not the sum of our human and spiritual laziness but of works of love. Therefore, it will be opened only to he who contributes to its edification here on earth.

St. Paul, in the second reading, emphasizes that element. He exhorts the Thessalonians to be alert and at work so that the day of the Lord will not catch them by surprise. The Apostle sets forth rules of what should be the life of a Christian in light of the coming of the Lord. The first and greatest of all these rules is obviously the awareness, to stay awake. This meets the message of last Sunday. Stay awake, be watchful, keep our lamp, our faith ignited. Because we are disciples of Christ, children of the light, we should not let ourselves be surprised by his coming. We should not behave like the children of darkness. An emphasis is put on the opposition between light and darkness. The children of light live in sobriety and alert, while those of darkness take pleasure in drunkenness, unbelief, and all kinds of evil. As result, because of their lifestyle, they will see sudden destruction falling on them. His actions are what either condemns or saves man, not God.

The first reading will meet this call to action by portraying the industrious woman. The characteristics of the godly woman as presented here should also be those of any Christian. The godly woman, says the author of the Proverbs, is more precious than rubies. She surpasses any other woman in virtue. She is industrious, striving to provide for the good of her family, tirelessly at work, cares for her household. Not only so, but she is also generous with the less fortunate and the poor. Her hand is always opened and extended to the needy. This woman, as here described, is the perfect image of the disciple of Christ. The Christian is called to be one who, knowing to be precious to the Lord, put actions to raise the rights and the dignity of others, with a preferential option for the marginalized and the forgotten of our societies. Through doing so, he assures himself a bright future in God’s kingdom.

The best-of of today’s liturgy will come from the Gospel, the parable narrated by Jesus. The Lord, in this parable clearly emphasizes three attitudes or elements that will serve as a module for our judgment: responsibility, reliability, and accountability. In front of God, and in our relationship with him, we all stand responsible, reliable, and accountable for all that he gave us. As we can read it in the parable, the master who knows the capacities of his servants entrusted each of them with a specific talent, “each one according to his ability.”

God will never give you what you are not able to do or beyond your capability. Consequently, he will not ask you for an account of what he has not given you. If he asks you an account of love, it is because he has first loved you and emblazoned his love into your heart. So, it is up to each one to take the risk of being industrious, invest the best as he can the precious gifts of God. We will be judged on the basis of what we did with God’s gift. We should keep it clear in mind that we are not using our own treasure, but rather the treasure of God. Therefore, we have the obligation to give him a clear account of our management of his property. He does not tolerate our laziness or fear to risk.

Brethren, to each one of us, God gave the capacity to love and to be loved. Love is expected to be productive. If we fail to make fruitful our love through works of mercy and assistance to the needy, if we close our heart and eyes to their needs, synonymous of burying our talents, we will stand responsible, reliable, and accountable of our choice, and regrettably, we will be withdrawn from God’s love and thrown into the eternal damnation, “into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

May it be clear to us all, it is not God who sends man to hell. Instead, it is man’s inactivity, spiritual sterility, laziness, and fear that lead him to hell. Let us, therefore, take the risk to invest what God gave us. Here comes the popular dictum, “those who risk nothing achieve nothing.” While we are nearing the end of the liturgical year, it is time to evaluate our relationship with the Lord. Have we been worthy stewards of his graces? What have we done of our faith, hope, and love?