Fear Not!

Do not be afraid!

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’-Matthew25:14-30

The Gospel reading is enough to make one ask himself/herself, "What have I done with the talents and gifts entrusted to me by God?" Our town is the host of this year's District 1 inter-school games. For several days, we keep on hearing cheers, folk dance songs, original compositions, music, oration, declamation and so forth. This week is indeed a showcase of talents. My mother narrated her days as an archer. Well, it made me wonder about my own gifts and clubs.

For me, the main fault of the third servant is not because he hid the money, but because he was afraid. He was afraid of his demanding master. He was afraid of failure. He was afraid that when the master returns to hear their accounting, he has nothing to report because he failed. He was afraid to risk. He was afraid to commit mistakes. He was afraid to give it a try. He was afraid to get out of his comfort zone. He had a once in a lifetime opportunity to be the "master" but he cannot let go of his identity as a servant. He was given the chance to shine, to make it to the top, to be the master, to be above the rest, but he chose to swim instead in his limitations and boxed self. Aren't we like him sometimes?

Today, Jesus is encouraging us to be unafraid. Jesus is inviting us to risk for Him sometimes. Jesus is inviting us to leave our comfort zones and allow Him to lead us to places far beyond our understanding. Let's give it a try! Besides, we have nothing to lose since He is with us every step of the way.

Image courtesy: Willem de Poorter (Parable of the Talents), artists