Homily for the Memorial of St. Cecilia

The parable we just heard from Luke's Gospel aims to counter the expectation that God's kingdom would arrive shortly. The people who followed Jesus were preoccupied with thoughts about the future. Jesus attempted to shift their attention to the present by telling this parable.

The parable is about a nobleman who went away to a foreign country and returned to his land as king. While he was away, his servants focused on the day of his return while it should have been on their present needs and utilizing the resources he left them for what they genuinely required at present.

Excessive concern about the future can detract from the present. What matters is the generous and courageous use of the gifts and resources that the LORD has given us to serve others who are here right now. This is the approach to life that the LORD is urging us to adopt. The servant who kept his gold coin hidden away for fear of losing it went against this approach to life. While using our gifts and resources, we may fail and make mistakes. However, the truth is that failure is preferable to fearful inactivity.