God has created each one of us with a mission. He has endowed each one with the talents necessary to fulfill this mission.  So naturally He expects us to be up and active and not to waste our talents and ourselves in sloth and idleness. This is the message all the three readings of today’s liturgy of the word give us.

The ideal woman in the First Reading works hard, uses her time well, does good to all, brings honor to her husband and wins praises from all. In the Second Reading St. Paul asks us to live in the light by leading a holy life, not to live in darkness by committing what is evil, and to be always awake and watchful so that we may always be ready to face death and judgment.

In the gospel parable the two servants who worked hard and earned a profit were praised and rewarded by the master while the lazy fellow who wasted his talent and put the blame on the blameless  master was justly punished. Eternal happiness is the divine reward for an earthly service faithfully rendered. The false excuse of the third servant is repeated in many forms among us still: ‘’God is too austere, He cannot expect to me to make such sacrifices. I have to provide for myself; His promises and threats may be only empty words. He may never return to demand what he wants me to do.’’ 

These and all other such excuses are proved false in this parable. Let us be wise and do the needful now while we have time and then our account book will be in order on the day of reckoning.