Wednesday, Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time

[Scripture Readings: Eph 1:1-10; Lk 11:47-54 ]

The wicked, negligent servant in today's Gospel not only lost his job, he was cast into the outer darkness where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth. This parable is not about mismanaging gold coins. Salvation itself is at stake, eternal life or eternal death. It is a story about far greater treasures, grace and charity, entrusted to us by God in the seven sacraments.

However, we can be wicked servants by skipping Baptism and Confirmation, or by mistreating the Eucharist as ordinary bread, or by sinning without Reconciliation, or by Marriage without an openness to conceive and protect new life, or by Ordination without an openness to ministry, or by refusing Anointing of the Sick.

No earthly wealth can compare with the treasures entrusted to us in these sacraments. May we receive them fervently, as often as we can. May grace and charity increase in our hearts and in the world so that one day we will hear the Lord say, “Well done good and faithful servant, come, share your master's joy.” Then we will see what great treasures God has in store for us.