Homily for Wednesday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

The parable we just heard from Luke's Gospel addresses the expectation that God's kingdom would arrive soon. The people following Jesus were often preoccupied with thoughts about the future. In response, Jesus shared this parable to draw their attention back to the present.

The parable tells the story of a nobleman who traveled to a foreign country and later returned as king. During his absence, his servants were focused on the day of his return instead of addressing their current needs and making good use of the resources he had left them.

Worrying excessively about the future can distract us from what is essential in the present. What truly matters is how we generously and courageously use the gifts and resources that the Lord has given us to help those who are here right now. This is the perspective that the Lord encourages us to adopt. The servant who hid his gold coin in a handkerchief for fear of losing it went against this approach to life. Although using our gifts and resources may lead to mistakes or failures, it's important to remember that failure is better than being paralyzed by fear and inactivity.