“Keep the faith,” is an old adage. It is said as encouragement and meant to bolster friends and their attitude in a given circumstance. It is often said routinely and perhaps humorously. But it is just as importantly said and meant in difficult circumstances; times when faith may be all that keeps us going. But what if, in routine and difficult circumstances alike, we don’t ‘Keep the faith.’ What if instead, we “Give the faith away?”
Keeping the faith versus giving the faith away is the message of this Sunday’s Gospel. It is the parable of three servants who receive great gifts. The two who receive the most gifts give them away and more gifts are created. But the third servant is afraid. He hides the gift, wanting to preserve it out of fear. Gifts given us may be beauty or athleticism or a loving nature or healing abilities. However we understand or interpret our gifts, the message is not to keep to ourselves but to give ourselves and our gifts away – be generous. Spread, spend, increase, distribute, provide love, compassion, healing, transformation, and every other gift given us from a generous life and an equally generous earth. The servant who keeps the gift out of fear may be likened to current white supremacist evangelicals. They fear their faith is being attacked and, out of fear, say to each other, ‘Keep the faith.’ Unfortunately, white supremacist evangelical faith is self-made faith to keep safe deities that are fearful and religious practices that are fearful. In their fear, they seem to believe less in having been given gifts and more in having been given custody. They believe they have been given custody of the Bible. They fearfully keep it intact, forever preserving the literal word of God while fiercely opposing the living People of God. White supremacist evangelicals believe they have been given custody of marriage. They fearfully keep it intact, forever preserving the control of men over women, while fiercely opposing the freedom of men and women to love. If we do not keep our faith and instead give away our faith – faith in the People of God and in love – then fear will diminish and gifts will abound.
“We are not on earth to guard a museum, but to cultivate a flourishing garden of life.” (Jorge Bergoglio)
Prayer: Generous Spirit, we give away to others gifts given to us.
Question: How am I doing at giving even things away let alone my gifts?
November 19, 2017 Gospel Matthew 25:14-30 Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
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