Third Friday in Advent (O Radix Jesse)

O Root of Jesse, you stand for an ensign of the people; before you the rulers will shut their mouths, and for you the nations will seek: come and deliver us, and do not tarry.

Zech. 7:8-8:8; Rev. 5:6-14; Matthew 25:14-30

As we approach Christmas, promises seem to mingle with warnings.  Through Zechariah we hear the promise of restoration and return: the streets will be filled, children will play and the aged will sit in peace, and God will be with them.  From Matthew we hear about the consequences of our beliefs and actions.  If we trust God and use what we are given, we will receive abundantly; if we don’t, if we expect punishment and seek to play it safe, we lose everything.  I’m surprised Jesus didn’t have a parable: “the kingdom of God is like a gambling hall . . . “

Albert Einstein once said the most important question facing humanity is whether or not the universe is friendly.  I think he was onto the same line of thought as Jesus.  I don’t know what Einstein meant; he may have thought this was an empirical question, something to be discovered.  Jesus seems to say that we get the universe we expect.  The slaves with five and ten talents had an awesome responsibility, but also an awesome trust and willingness to try.  The slave with one did not, and his actions led to experience that verified his belief.  You can just hear him as he’s being thrown into the outer darkness: “I knew it!  I knew my master was harsh!”  He cannot see how he contributed to his situation, so he remains a victim, weeping and gnashing.

Now, too many people receive less than a fair share of gifts to start with.  But many of them do nonetheless live in trust and multiply their gifts.  I know people with nothing who rejoice, and immigrants who know more about gratitude and willingness than those who have never faced the challenge of leaving everything and starting over.  I’ve been given ten talents, and for too much of my life I buried them out of fear.  When I began to let go and trust, the darkness began to lift.  I began to enter into the joy promised by God.

We stand today between promises and warnings.  Both guide us toward fullness of life, God’s dream for us.

What do you need to risk today to enter into God’s joy?

Please keep us in your prayers this weekend, as we lead a retreat at Holy Cross Monastery.  Our theme is “Magnificat!  Mary’s Yes and Ours.”  Thanks!