When entrusted with much ....
19th Sunday C
Ballymore
10 August 2025
My friends,
When a young person dies there is a deep sense of loss felt by family, friends and community. It comes from our natural sense that everyone’s life has potential – a potential to live and hope – that gifts and talents can be fulfilled and thereby find a sense of fulfilment for themselves and the enrichment of all those whose lives they touch and come in contact with.
One is constantly reminded of this fact in cemeteries, where their resting place is continually adorned with flowers as an expression of their place still in the hearts of those who mourn them. It is most poignant when you see the same pattern on roadside shrines to the young who’ve died in tragic car accidents. Unrealised dreams and hope, leave us bereaved for what has not been.
Today’s Gospel points us to think about that dimension of our own life, those of us blessed with a natural span of time.
“When a person has a great deal given to them on trust even more will be expected of him”
When we hear it put like that it sounds like a threat. But if you take it along with the tone of the cluster of parables that Jesus shares with disciples in this section of St. Luke’s Gospel you get the sense of invitation and aspiration that true following of the Lord Jesus gives to our lives.
“Get yourselves purses that do not wear out, treasure that will not fail you, in heaven where no thieve can reach it, and no moth destroy it. For where your treasure is, there is your heart also.”
In these few lines is found the pearl of great price that is the kingdom for which we pray each time we pray the Lord’s Prayer – Thy kingdom come. The reign of God is realised not so much in the bricks and mortar of great shrines. Rather in each human heart and mind that is open to appreciating the life experience and journey of their neighbour. While this is a vision and inspiration from heaven, it is lived out and accomplished through the daily life of our earthly journey.
“For where your treasure is, there is your heart also.”
Simple but challenging words but a great benchmark for daily life.
Who do you value and cherish?
What do you value and cherish?
Where a person has a great deal given him on trust even more will be expected of him/her.
