This Sunday's readings are remarkable and full of powerful imagery for married couples.
The first reading (Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31) talks of the value of a "worthy wife", being "far beyond pearls", "an unfailing prize", bringing "good, and not evil, all the days of her life."
It goes on to say:
"Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;
the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her a reward for her labors,
and let her works praise her at the city gates."
The second reading (1 Thes 5:1-6) reminds us that "the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night" and extends this imagery of a good, loving, dutiful spouse and extends it to use as a church.
Our answer lies in the Gospel (Mt 25:14-30), when our Lord makes it clear that he desires a Return On Investment (ROI) on the talents which the Spirit has entrusted to us. Not a negative gain... not break-even. A return.
Interestingly, this leads right back to the quote that I chose to put onto a plaque that I gave each member of our parish council at our annual dinner last month.
It's by Erma Bombeck, and reads:
Well said!
What talents do we have from God to use in our own marriages? With our children? In our households? But beyond that, what talents are we using to build up the kingdom? Which ones are we not using as fully as we could?
The first reading (Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31) talks of the value of a "worthy wife", being "far beyond pearls", "an unfailing prize", bringing "good, and not evil, all the days of her life."
It goes on to say:
"Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;
the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her a reward for her labors,
and let her works praise her at the city gates."
The second reading (1 Thes 5:1-6) reminds us that "the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night" and extends this imagery of a good, loving, dutiful spouse and extends it to use as a church.
"For all of you are children of the lightSo what are we to do until this day of the lord comes? What makes us "an unfailing prize" as in the wife in the book of Proverbs?
and children of the day.
We are not of the night or of darkness.
Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do,
but let us stay alert and sober."
Our answer lies in the Gospel (Mt 25:14-30), when our Lord makes it clear that he desires a Return On Investment (ROI) on the talents which the Spirit has entrusted to us. Not a negative gain... not break-even. A return.
Interestingly, this leads right back to the quote that I chose to put onto a plaque that I gave each member of our parish council at our annual dinner last month.
It's by Erma Bombeck, and reads:
"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'"
Well said!
What talents do we have from God to use in our own marriages? With our children? In our households? But beyond that, what talents are we using to build up the kingdom? Which ones are we not using as fully as we could?
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