Bold Investments

“I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.”
— Matthew 25:25

It wasn’t laziness that kept the third servant from acting—it was fear. Fear froze him. Fear whispered that the master couldn’t be trusted, that failure would be punished, that it was safer to bury what was given rather than risk losing it.

This parable always makes me stop and ask: What are my talents? How am I using them—or hiding them? A talent here isn’t just money, it’s every God-given gift, every skill, every spark of opportunity placed in my hands.

Jesus tells this story to give me a glimpse of the Kingdom of Heaven. And what does it look like? It looks like people trusting God enough to take risks with the gifts He’s given them. It looks like bold investing in love, service, creativity, and faith. But it also reveals the opposite: when fear wins, gifts get buried.

I know this tension personally. I’ve been the bold servant who steps out, invests, and risks for God. But I’ve also been the fearful one, digging holes to hide what I was too anxious to use.

So the real question is: How do I become a more confident investor of God’s gifts?

By remembering who the Master truly is. He’s not harsh or stingy—He’s extravagantly generous. He trusts me enough to place His treasures in my hands. And what matters most to Him is not flawless success, but faithful effort. Every step of trust, no matter how small, is an investment in His Kingdom.

Jesus, thank you for the gifts you give me. Help me be a bold investor and not a fearful buryor.  

 

Be a Waiter

You are now waiting for Jesus, his Son, whom he raised from the dead, to come from heaven to save us from the retribution which is coming.
1Thes.1:10

Saint Paul points out that the Christian life is not just one of doing. It is also one of waiting.

Waiting develops a lot of good fruit, like patience, hope and trust. These in turn give me peace the world cannot give and that sort of peace fosters joy. 

Jesus, you have promised to return. Help me be a waiter, not just a doer. Give me patience to wait expectantly with hope, peace and joy. 

A Little More Perfect

Jesus said to him, ‘If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ 
Mt.19:21

The rich young man has everything. He is rich and young, things the world values. But he senses there is more that he lacks. There is, and to gain it he must give everything away.

As usual this story throws a light on me.  What is the "wealth" that I find hard to give away? Wealth is not just money. Tolstoy gave everything away to the poor but it ruined his relationship with his family. Was that what was really required of him? 

There's no easy answer to this. Weasel words come up when I try to justify my position of holding on to my "wealth". I guess it's the old question of, "Where is my heart?" If it's not in heavenly things then it's probably a hindrance to me becoming perfect as Jesus understands the word. 

Maybe if I just focus one day at a time on following Jesus. Then each step makes me a little more perfect than I was yesterday.

Jesus, help me today to be a little more perfect as I follow you. 

Upside Down

Jesus said, ‘Let the little children alone, and do not stop them coming to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’
Mt.19:14

Once again Jesus turns the world upside down. The small, the weak, the vulnerable are the inheritors of the Kingdom.

I have seventeen grandchildren. I love them dearly but... When they arrive, whatever I'm doing gets paused or simply stops. Children's time domain is very simple. Now! The concepts of "Wait a minute" or "When I've finished" don't compute. In a sense they become a mini autocracy. 

They force my world to go upside down. It's no longer about me... my time, my goals, my rights. This is not my natural world and I fight it. 

Yet, as was the case yesterday, there is two year old Lucy holding a book saying "Story! Story!" while I'm trying to engage with unexpected visiting family. I finally sat her on my knee and read in parts while talking with our guests. Lucy knew she wasn't getting the full deal but she was gracious, as were our visitors.

Upside down is where Jesus wants me to be. Perhaps my grandchildren are part of his design to get me into that unnatural pose. 

Jesus, thank you for the lessons I am sent via my grandchildren. Help me become malleable so that upside down becomes my new right side up. 

The Power of More than One

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
Mt.18:20

Jesus promises a unique presence among gathered believers. Nothing less than himself.

This is the "Power of More than One". We're not meant to be Lone Ranger Christians. Jesus calls believers to gather to powerfully experience his presence. Does this mean he isn't present when I pray alone, like now? Of course not. It's simply a promise that he will be with us in a uniquely influential way when we are Church. The Eucharist couldn't happen for me by myself. 

This promise of Jesus' to be especially present in a gathering has motivated our family prayer time for decades. We open our time of family prayer usually by thanking Jesus for his promise and welcoming him into our home. Children get it. 

Thank you Lord for being among us in Church, large and small. Thank you for the Power of More than One.

When I am Weak I am Strong

The disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ So he called a little child to him
Mt.18:1,2

The disciples ask who is the greatest. Jesus replies by presenting who is the least.

If I'm honest, I must admit to a constant desire to be the greatest, the handsomest, the cleverest, the most powerful. Jesus tells me this is not only rubbish and reconstituted dust but the source of all my dissatisfaction, anxiety and grief. It's the source of stress in my life.

The greatest blessing I've found with humility, on the occasions I achieve it, is peace. It's the green pasture and still waters where he leads me.

Jesus, without you I am lost. Be my shepherd. Carry me home on your shoulders like a little lamb.

My Cheerleader

I am no longer trying for perfection by my own efforts, the perfection that comes from the Law, but I want only the perfection that comes through faith in Christ, and is from God and based on faith.
Ph.3:9

Perfection comes by faith in Jesus. Perfection by the Law is doomed for failure.

This is a great relief for me. Faith in Jesus includes faith in his mercy, his grace, his love... all wonderful gifts to help me. I am no longer striving by my own efforts. Jesus is striving with me, cheering me on. 

Thank you Jesus for being my cheerleader. My faith is grounded in you. You are my hope and joy.