Psalm 128:1-2.3.4-5,
1Thessalonians 5:1-6,
Matthew 25:14-30 Full Readings
The True Fear of God
Brethren, this Sunday’s readings tell us about and show us the true fear of God and its benefits. Fear in the Bible does not mean the secular meaning of an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm or being afraid of someone. Rather fear means the respect of God, observing his commandments and living according to his will. It motivates individuals to live in accordance with His standards, avoiding sin and pursuing righteousness. It encompasses a profound respect, awe, and recognition of the divine, acknowledging God's authority and holiness. It is often seen as a positive and foundational aspect of spiritual life, leading to wisdom, obedience, and a right relationship with God. God's favour indeed will always be upon such a person as Mary declared in her Magnificat (Luke 1:50) and will lack nothing as Psalm 34:9 tells us (Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing). St Paul also encourages us always to "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose (Philp 2:12-13)."
The first reading shows us the joy of finding a worthy woman. She will always bring good and joy to the family and reaches out to help those in need and will make a family a model family. But then who is this woman and how does one get such a woman? A worthy woman is the one who fears the Lord; this is the good woman not any other. Today, people think that a good woman is the one who is charming and very beautiful, but the first reading warns us that such things last for a very short time. I normally tell young people, who are seeking marriage partners, not to take beauty and outside appearance as the only criteria for getting a marriage partner, for when you marry someone because of beauty and after sometimes, the beauty fades away, the love that existed will also fade away and the family will break down. But one who looks at the heart and the fear of God characters will get a good woman and their love will last forever. In a world that often values outward appearances and immediate gratification, this reading today reminds us of the enduring beauty of a character molded by a reverence for God. It calls us to look beyond the surface for the outside appearance may deceive us.
This is not an exception for the husbands too. The responsorial psalm today, that blessed the man who fears the Lord, his wife will be like a fruitful vine in the recesses of your home and children like olive plants around your table. God will surely bless him, and he will be successful. Therefore, a secret to having a good family is in the fear of the Lord, and others will follow.
St Paul also in the second reading indirectly stresses the fear of the Lord as he tells us that the day of the Lord will come like a thief and so we have to be prepared as children of the light. We shall surely be taken by Jesus to his kingdom if he finds us with the fear of God, which is, following his commandments, loving him and serving him and also loving your neighbor as Christ loved us. This is what we call charity, when God finds us with charity, we shall surely enjoy eternal life.
The Gospel today shows us an aspect of the negative meaning of fear. Among the servants who were given talents, one who was given five talents did business and got more five and the one with two, got two more but the one who got one, because of fear, hid it and did trade with it to get profit. He knew that his master was a demanding person, harvesting where he did not plant and gathering where he did not scatter; and so out of fear he went off and buried the master’s talent in the ground. Sometimes we are like this servant who was afraid of investing, afraid of failure, and ultimately afraid of God himself. In our negative fear, we neglect to look for help in the one place we can find it: by praying to God. in this way, even the little faith we have or that little which we think we will be taken away from us just like the one talent was taken from him and given to the faithful servant.
Brethren, this is the negative fear, of which we as Christians should not have in our relationship with God. The true fear of God will make us use the talents to serve him and serve our neighbours; that is what he requires of us and at last he will give us our reward of eternal life in the same way the master did to the faithful servants. We have been given many talents from God, let use them for our good and good of others.
The servant who received ten talents was also given the talent that had been hidden. When we “have, more will be given” and we can grow rich. Jesus is revealing not a temporal truth, but a spiritual one. Almighty God never tires of showering graces on those who receive them gratefully and share the fruits with others. We can truly grow ever richer in grace, because God is so very generous. Everything we experience is a chance to grow in grace and in holiness. Every moment is a “talent.” Let’s not waste our opportunity to love God more and more, and so enter into his joy.
Brethren, at last when Jesus comes, there must be something you and I can show to the Lord with pride and gratitude: ‘Look, this is the talent you gave me; I used it well, developed it, served people with it, and here are the fruits of it.’ Reflect today how your fear of God will make you use your talents for the common good, for God does not give us talents and gifts for our individual and selfish desires but to use them to serve him and all humanity.
Let us Pray.
Grant me Lord with the fear of you so that you will always be the master of my life and whatever I do. Help me to make good use of the gifts, talents, time and resources you give for your glory, the good of others and for your kingdom. Amen
Be blessed.
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