soccer gameA few years ago, I watched my former high school boy’s soccer team playing for the state championship. It was a great game with Borgia losing in the final 3 minutes of the 4th sudden victory overtime. There was a moment in the 3rd overtime that has vividly stayed in my memory. Borgia was applying significant pressure, and a Notre Dame player hit a long clearing ball toward the midfield. I watched Borgia’s sweeper hesitate for about 1 second, and then he took off to intercept the ball before it got to the opposing player. It was a quick, split second decision, but in that decision, he took a huge risk. If he doesn’t get the ball, then the other team has a breakaway. If he does get to it, they keep the pressure on. (as the case was, he did not get there first, and only a great save by the goal keeper kept the game going.)

Do you like to play it safe in the game of life or are you a risk taker? It seems like today’s gospel is less about sums of money, and more about the willingness to take risks. The first two quickly go and double their earnings – an adventure fraught with risk in those days as well as our own. As for the third, as he tries to ‘justify his actions, he says: “I knew you were a hard man…so, out of fear, I went and buried your money in the ground.” Out of fear, I chose not to take a risk. Out of fear, I played it safe. Out of fear, what you gave me is returned, unharmed, safe and sound.

It seems so harsh, the response. “Take what he has. Give it to another.” For to live in fear is not the way of the kingdom. To play it safe gains no points in the kingdom of heaven. Either you risk it all, or you will have nothing. “For whomever would save his life, will lose it, but whomever loses his life, for my sake will gain it.”

Do you like to play it safe or are you a risk taker? For it seems that there is no ‘safe ground’ in the gospel. Each moment becomes a moment when we can risk. Each moment, becomes an opportunity to double what we have been given. Or to bury what has been handed on to us. The choice becomes ours.

I confess, for many years, when I heard this gospel, I immediately thought, well, I’m the poor beggar who only received one talent – not much there, not much to give or share or grow. Not the five, surely not the ten talents were entrusted to me. Yet, I have come to realize that I have been given much. That we all have been given much.

One talent is 16 years worth of wages for a worker in the time of Jesus. So even if I only received the one – there has been a rich deposit given to me, a vast treasure dumped into my laps. It is the gift of faith and the knowledge of the love of God and family and parents poured into my heart. I am so rich and so blessed, and so gifted. Last night, the Archbishop spoke of the rich heritage of grace at the Newman Center for these past 50 years. I am so gifted to have served there, these past 14 1/2 years, and here at St. Ann these past 12 ½ years

This story, which was addressed to the religious leaders of Jesus’ time, becomes a story addressed to each of us who have received the rich deposit of faith and love in Jesus. And the question becomes, not, will I risk sharing it, but HOW will I risk sharing what I have received.
A few suggestions…

• Ask your spouse, your boyfriend or girlfriend, or just one of your good friends to pray together with you.
• Though we know not the day nor the hour, it seem apparent that something is about to happen soon in Ferguson. What are you willing to risk to bring about PEACE these days? What hard conversations will you chose, so as to make a difference in understanding between the citizens and the thin blue line of police and firefighters and first responders? Who do you need to have that conversation with?
• Make a commitment to adopt a family this Christmas – you can do the 100 neediest cases or through our Vincent de Paul society…

It was a split second decision by the sweeper – a bold risk that I am not sure I would have taken. But he did, and I am different because of his risk. I pray this week, that when I am given that opportunity, that split second moment to share what has been handed on to me – that I too, might have the courage to risk it all…