Welcoming the Master Back… With No Regrets

 The master said to the lazy servant: “You knew… that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you should have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.” Imagine his regret… He knew. He had probably thought about the bank on day one. He should have done what the master said. He could have done it, and now there is no time. He could have been a different servant, and the outcome would have been different, but now there is no time…

1. Someone recently shared with me a near-death experience. At the moment he knew he was about to die, a thought came to his mind: “Why did I not love Jesus more?” I was shocked and a little bit ashamed. When I myself was close to death, all I thought was asking forgiveness for my sins and commending myself to God’s mercy. But this is more beautiful: “Why did I not love You more, Jesus? Was it not your will that I be a different kind of priest? More courageous, kinder, more productive, more relaxed, more faithful, more loving of you and of my people…” I wish one day, when the Lord finally calls me back home, that I do not carry with me too many regrets. I may die tomorrow, so I might as well blow off everything today!

2. Don’t worry, I am not planning anything crazy. Sometimes we think that being better is turning completely away from who we have been until now. This is not necessarily the case. Other times we may think that being better is changing very obvious things, superficial things; or changing things that are important because of the time they consume, or the energy they take from us, or the money we spend in them. Maybe. But God sees the heart. What is it that you do not want to regret before God on that day? He doesn’t care about what people think of you, or how much you actually do. He praised in the same way both the one who produced five more talents and the one who produced only two (Matthew 25:21.23). Because each of them had done their job. That’s all God desires. But what does He want from you?

3. What are the bankers? Bankers multiply the money deposited. We all have received from God the talent of faith, some more, some less, but we all need to multiply the good we have received. There are three ways of doing this, according to St. Thomas (cf. Commentary on St. Matthew). The first is when we have received an understanding of what God desires of us, and we make an effort to put it into practice. Faith is multiplied in the works of faith. Second, we multiply the faith and the virtues we have received by making them grow, by exercising those virtues every day and growing stronger in faith and in charity, towards God and our neighbour. Third, we multiply the faith received when we teach others the faith we have and the virtues we practice: faith is multiplied in those who benefit from our good example.

4. The woman in the first reading is an example for all of us. “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain” (Proverbs 31:30). There is nothing wrong with being pretty, or handsome; but this woman’s concern goes in a different direction. This woman is not after the pleasure of being seen by others but rather is after the pleasure of being productive and fruitful. “She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable” (vv. 16-18). She is not after superficial beauty, which attracts the attention of others; she wants to be strong so that she can work more and multiply the money she already has. She has a husband already, and she desires to be praised by him alone (vv. 28-29). She works for him, for her children, for her family.

We also have a God already; however, sometimes, we look for the vain glory that can be produced by worldly praise, or we seek the attention of people rather than God’s approval. Like this woman, we should ask ourselves only one thing: what does God desire of me? How can I help God’s family?

5. St. Paul says, “let us not fall asleep as others do.” (I intentionally left this mention at the end of the homily, to make sure I wake up those who have not made it this far…) The children of the light are awake and sober. At night, lazy people party or sleep. From the strong woman it is said, “Her lamp does not go out at night” (Proverbs 31:18) I am not saying that we should not sleep, but that we should be children of the light even by night. The day of the Lord will come like a thief, perhaps by night. May the Lord find us without regrets.

“Father, I cannot change the past! What do you mean by ‘no regrets’?” Repentance transforms wasted time into a treasure, sometimes even more beautiful than innocence. The Good Thief wasted his whole life as a criminal: but a cross brought him closer to Jesus, and in only one hour he confessed publicly his sins, believed in Jesus and gave public witness of his faith. He confessed his sins: “we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds” (Luke 23:41). He believed and gave witness: “this man has done nothing wrong” and then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (vv. 41-42). He woke up from his sins, he had an opportunity to be saved, and he did not want to add to his regrets. The Lord gave him one hour, and he did not waste it. And for just one productive hour, the Lord gave him one city to possess and enjoy (cf. Luke 19:16-19), the heavenly Jerusalem: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

If you recognize in your heart that you should love Jesus more, take your talent, take the opportunity God is giving you, and do it. It doesn’t matter what you did before, the Lord has a forgiving memory… If you now take advantage of this opportunity, you will welcome the Lord with no regrets, happy like a little boy when his father comes back from work.