Luke 19:11-28

Revelation 4:1-11

Psalm 150:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6

Luke 19:11-28

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 then to return.

He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold 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 the kingship,

he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money,

to learn what they had gained by trading.

The first came forward and said,

‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’

He replied, ‘Well done, good servant!

You have been faithful in this very small matter;

take charge of ten cities.’

Then the second came and reported,

‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned 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 did not lay down

and you harvest what you did not plant.’

He 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 ten.’

But they said to him,

‘Sir, he has ten 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 as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king,

bring them here and slay them before me.’”

After he had said this,

he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, teach me to be faithful in small matters. May the gift of your grace flourish within me. I promise to engage in trade with what you have given me and do my best to produce good fruit for your kingdom.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Royal Judgment: As Jesus journeys from Jericho to Jerusalem, he tells a parable addressed to those who thought that the Kingdom of God would appear immediately. The parable in Luke is similar to one found in Matthew but also different in some ways. Unlike Matthew’s Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), in which each servant was given different amounts of money, each of the servants in Luke’s Parable of the Ten Minas was given the same amount by a nobleman. Matthew’s parable speaks about a talent, a monetary unit equal to what a person would earn over 20 years. Luke’s parable speaks about a mina, equal to the wage earned for 3 to 4 months of work. Theologically, Luke’s parable refers to Jesus’ ascension into heaven to receive the kingdom from his Father and to Jesus’ return to judge his disciples, who are called to work diligently until his return, and to judge those who reject his royal authority (Luke 19:27) (see Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 144).  

2. You Created All Things: In Revelation 4 and 5, John was granted a vision of the heavenly liturgy. Today, we read Revelation 4, which contemplates and praises God for the divine work of creation. There are many images of and references to creation in John’s vision. For example, John first mentions the precious stones that were found in both the Garden of Eden and the Temple in Jerusalem, which was modeled after the garden. The garden, created by God for us, was understood as the original sanctuary, where humanity could worship God, enjoy divine blessing, walk with God, and share in God’s creative work. John also sees a rainbow, which recalls the recreation of the world after the flood and the renewal of the covenant of creation with Noah. 

3. The Worship of God the Creator: John then looks at the 24 elders (presbyters) around the throne of God and contemplates the Holy Spirit in front of the throne. The 24 elders recall the 24 divisions of priests established by King David to serve in the Temple in Jerusalem. The four living creatures – the lion, the calf, the man, and the eagle – recall the Zodiac, which divides the heavens. The lion that John sees refers to the constellation Leo, the calf or bull to the constellation Taurus, the man to the constellation Aquarius, and the Eagle is a substitute for the constellation Scorpio. The stars, in the Book of Revelation and other books of the Bible, often symbolize angels. What John contemplates in Revelation 4, then, is the worship of the Lord God by the angels of heaven, represented by the four living creatures, and by glorified human beings, represented by the twenty-four elders (royal priests). Here, on earth, we share in the heavenly liturgy. Through the liturgy of the Church, we join with the saints and the angels in heaven in praising God for the great work of creation.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you reign in heaven, surrounded by the heavenly host and the saints. Keep my eyes and heart focused on you. When I contemplate the beauty of the world around me, bring me to praise you and your Father for your great work.

Living the Word of God: How am I working in God’s creation? What are the tasks he has given me? What are the talents and treasures he has entrusted to me to trade with? If Jesus were to return today, what would I present to him?