33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily

Psalm 128 begins, “Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.”

Today’s gospel speaks of the third servant who acts out of fear of his Lord.

Are these two passages in conflict? The psalm speaks of “fear of the Lord” as a good thing. The gospel passage indicates the third servant is paralyzed by his fear. It keeps him from doing the right thing. The first two servants take what their master has given and double what they have. The third servant, “out of fear” buried the one talent he had been given in the ground to keep it safe.

It is natural to be afraid of some things. Paul reminds us that the “day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” We are concerned about what the thief might steal. We might be afraid of what he will do to us.

In response to fear of the thief, we might take reasonable measures to protect our property from the thief. Or we could let the fear take over such that we never leave our homes and never let anyone in “out of fear.” This fear paralyzes us.

On the other hand a lack of fear can make us lax. We think all is safe, let our guard down and disaster happens. The devil likes it when we think he doesn’t exist. Because then we let our guard down and he can strike us down.

Being afraid of something is one time of fear. The “fear of the Lord” spoken of in the Bible is another type of fear.

Now, God is all-powerful. He could wipe us out. One only needs to think of the great flood at the time of Noah to know this. Thus, we have reason to be afraid of the Lord. This fear might help motivate some people not to sin. That has its positives. This fear might paralyze others from action.

However, when the Bible speaks of “fear of the Lord”, it speaks of another type of fear. This fear recognizes that God is not just “all-powerful.” He is also “all-loving.” When we “fear the Lord“, we recognize his greatness and we stand in “awe” of his greatness. Knowing this “awe” is the “fear of the Lord” that leads us to love God and to do what is pleasing to him.

This is what motivates the first two servants in today’s gospel. The master is going away. Before he leaves he “entrusted his possessions to them…each according to his ability.” The first two recognize the fact that he “entrusted his possessions to them” as a sign of favor. In response, they want to do what is pleasing to their master. They each go out, using what they have been given, to make more.

When their master returns he says to them separately, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.”

The third servant acted differently. He was afraid of disappointing his master. He wanted to keep safe what he had been given. So, he buried it. In effect, he did nothing with it. He did not put it to good use.

God does not want us to fear him in this way. Jesus repeatedly says, “Do not be afraid.“

God has given each of us different gifts. What do you do with the gifts you have been given? Do you use them for the building of God’s kingdom or do you hide your gifts, afraid of disappointing God? Do you recognize how God has blessed you with the gifts or are you afraid of disappointing him?

We might fear we do not have enough to make good use of the gifts. God always gives us enough to do what He asks of us. Jesus says, “For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.“

Jesus is not talking about material wealth per say. He is talking about faith. Those who have some faith, will be given more. Those who have little faith and bury it, will lose what little faith they do have.

Do not let any fear of the Lord paralyze you. Use what faith you have in God as all-loving and put your trust in him and He will provide.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff