First Reading: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
Responsorial: Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
Gospel Passage: Matthew 25:14-30

Invested
By Bishop Richard Henning

As we near the end of the liturgical year, the readings look to the end of time and challenge us to examine our lives with length and depth of perspective. At the center of the readings is a passage from Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians. In that letter, Paul addressed several questions about the return of the Lord at the end of the ages. In this instance, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the unexpected nature of the Lord’s coming. It seems that the Thessalonians were more focused on calculating the timing of the Lord’s return than on living as good disciples in the present. So Paul warns them that no such calculation will buy them security. The only sensible approach is vigilance. They are to remain “sober and alert” in their Christian lives. The Lord’s return will be a moment for judgment and the wise disciple will make a good account of whatever time remains to him or her to live as the Lord has taught.
 
            The passage from the Gospel of Matthew also treats this issue of accountability. In the “Parable of the Talents,” Jesus does not give investment advice. The context is the return of the Lord in judgment. The talk of money and investing is metaphorical for the deeper reality of Christian faith. Faith is not a static possession of the Christian, it is not something that we can lock away in a vault or bury in the ground. Authentic faith must ever be dynamic, growing, maturing, and reaching out to others and to God. If the parable recommends “investing,” it is in the sense that the Christian must “invest” himself or herself fully in the life of discipleship. Such fully “vested” disciples will have much to show the Lord at the judgment. Those who leave faith untouched on the shelf will find on the day when it matters that their prized possession crumbles to pieces in their hands. Faith, like love, must be practiced to be real.
 
The first reading is an interesting passage from the Book of Proverbs concerning the qualities of a “worthy wife.” The passage speaks on at least two levels. It does indeed propose the qualities of a good wife, but it also speaks metaphorically of the life of wisdom. On the first level, the passage offers advice that may seem distant from the practical realities of our culture. We are somewhat less interested in a spouse’s talent with wool and flax. Even so, the basic idea remains pertinent. A person should not be judged on the incidentals of charm and appearance, but on the quality of their interactions with the world. On the second level, the verses belong to a larger section in praise of wisdom, and here the author uses the image of an industrious, sensible, and compassionate wife to represent the person, man or woman, who espouses himself or herself to wisdom. As is the case in the Gospel parable, the emphasis is on the actualization of the interior disposition. The “good wife” of wisdom lives the teachings of wisdom in all the aspects of life.
 
In this culture where so much attention is lavished upon the surface and appearance of people and things, the warning is timely. A marriage that relies on appearance will not take long to disintegrate. Likewise, a life lived on the surface is a life unlived. The summons of today’s reading is to go beyond appearances to the reality of faith. We learn that a living faith must grow, adapt, and permeate the whole of our lives. We learn that our perspective must be longer and deeper, and that faith must lead us beyond ourselves and enrich our relationships with others and with God.
 
Now is a good moment to consider Paul’s warning that time is always short and the Gospel warning that an accounting will be demanded. It is a good time examine the quality of our faith portfolio and ask whether our faith is producing results. Appearances of faith will never fool the Lord. He is interested in our spiritual “bottom line.” Has the Lord’s investment in us produced disciples who are trustworthy, compassionate, diligent, and good like the “worthy wife” of proverbs?