We have a fear that currency may devalue and life's savings diminish, leaving us defenceless and forlorn. Little may be left to show for the toil, frugality and prudent provision made for final years. Treasures fail, savings shrink and there is the ever present danger of thieves who break in and steal. Hard-earned savings melt as snow before the sun. We can be left saddened and bemused as products of our toil may seem to vanish forever from our sight.
We seek a currency that endures lest all our labour be in vain. We hold brief tenure of our acres (and our years) as each hour we await our Master's return, ever ready to give an account of our transient trust. "To whom much is given, from them much will be expected."
St Luke summons to full fidelity and to generous action. He would have us be prepared and dressed for action with vigil lamps (of prayer, sincerity and repentance) brightly burning, symbols of loving, loyal servants eagerly awaiting the joyful return of a generous, confiding master from the wedding feast, and ready to open doors of fidelity and love.
Whether the arrival be early or late, the good Master will not be outdone in generosity. He will don an apron and will serve his servants. He is the one who came not to be served but to serve. Here is, for all time, our lesson of love. What of our response? The heart sails under sealed orders. We know not the day nor the hour of final landfall. Readiness is all. The time is now.
In vivid terms we are given pictures of the grace-filled faithful steward and also, sadly, of the treacherous and disloyal retainer, cruel, idle, given to scandal and making no feeblest effort to fulfil life's task. We get all graces necessary for the once-made journey and the allotted task. Good example surrounds us. The teeming harvest fields speak a daily parable if we have ears to hear and eyes to see.
The sower goes out daily to sow in the acres of our waiting hearts the fertile seeds of holiness and hope. We are asked not to stunt the growth of God-given crop. He will, as always, fructify good will and generous resolve beyond our fondest hopes and holiest desires. We pray in scripture faith: "Lord, send my roots rain! Lord, teach us how to pray! Lord, that I may see!"
Loving Lord God, giver of every good gift, grant us light in our darkness, so that we may see what is truly holy, truly good and of lasting value. Make us faithful to our calling and forgive us all our sins. Help us to serve you and to be of help to others so that when you come to call us we may be found watchful in repentance, fidelity, and prayer and, ready in love, to answer your call. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.
F.MacN.