The Gospel For Wednesday, the 33rd week in Ordinary Time is taken from Luke 19:11, 28th verse. 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 and then to return. He called 10 servants and gave them 10 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 a kingship, he had the servants called to whom he had given the money to learn what they had gained in trading.

The first came forward and said, sir, your gold coin has earned 10 additional ones. He replied, well done, good servant. You have been faithful. In a very small matter, take charge of 10 cities. Then the second came and reported, your gold coin, sir, has earned me 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 do not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant. You 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 10. But they said to him, sir, he has 10 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 for those enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and slay them before me. After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

There’s an image hidden in this reading that I only have recently discovered. These people are looking for the Kingdom of God to be established, to be finished, so they can receive all of its benefits. But it’s clear what Jesus has in mind in terms of the Kingdom of God is a process, a continual work. And the work is you and I have been gifted with something that’s valuable. Our task is to share it. And when we share the gift that God has given, we multiply it.

And what’s clear in this king that has come to rule this kingdom of God is his intense desire that we are gifted so that we may be gifting others. Not just afraid to make a mistake, but willingly to put ourselves out there. And whatever gift we have to share it with the most open and generous spirit. That’s the kingdom of God. After the music, I will close with a prayer. Closing prayer Father, bless us with an awareness of the things that we are given so that we can be clearly confident that they don’t come from us, they come from you.

And give us courage in generously sharing them with those around us. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.