Gospel Luke 19 11-28
The Parable of the Ten Minas
While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’
“But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’
“He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
“The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’
“‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’
“The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’
“His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’
“Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’
“His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’
“Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
“‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’
“He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”
After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
The Gospel of the Lord ….
The Mass intentions is for John Robinson RIP
Parable of the Pounds
I find this Gospel very difficult to understand it is not easy to really grasp what the message of it is. Some commentators write that the Nobleman represents God but how can that be because he is a harsh and revengeful man.
The only way that I found it possible was to read the Gospel in its context that is the one before it and the one after it.
The Gospel before it is the story of the tax collector Zacchaeus, and the Gospel following is Our Lords Palm Sunday entrance into Jerusalem.
The story of Zacchaeus highlights Jesus as being compassionate and merciful to the sinner.
The Parable of the Pounds reveals the Nobleman (or in some translations the King) to be a hard, exacting individual.
Christs entry into Jerusalem, riding upon a colt is a picture of humility and surrender.
Therefore, in the Parable of the pounds we see how hard and without mercy the human heart can be when it does not relate to God.
