Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons: 16 November 2014

Fr Robin Gibbons

Do you get annoyed by certain passages of scripture? Take the ‘perfect wife’ image from Proverbs, no doubt suitable in its historical context, but how many of us agree with that passive , dependent image? Try this, substitute perfect ‘husband’, ‘partner’ or ‘friend’ for wife, change the occupation a bit and then see how it feels to you! It doesn’t rest easy does it?

Never mind, it does its job, shakes us up to actually think about several things, firstly of partnership between people, is there ever a ‘perfect person’? Well no, because its a work in progress!

Secondly its about what we strive to become with each other: showing mutual respect, looking out for others, working together as equals and having a sense of integrity that builds confidence our relationships. Then of course there is wisdom, something we should pray for and seek all the days of our life. If we reflect on the scriptures in this way and dialogue with it, what monks call Lectio Divina, even a difficult passage can begin to speak to us. Remember the scriptures are not dead but alive in the Spirit!

How then can we deal with Matthew’s parable of the talents? I suppose what we do need are some pointers, firstly the third servant with one talent wasn’t being bad by simply hiding the money, he followed orders but without any kind of insight as to his master’s needs or personality, he’s afraid of him. The others, well, they are creative, they have a different relationship with the master, more interactive and also insightful, for them his task is also one of mutual respect and trust in them, a bit like those virtues we discovered in Proverbs. They justify his confidence and double his income. So it is these two who are now called to share in his happiness, that is to become as equals not dependents!

Take the parable and look these two types of people? Are you willing to trust God, go beyond the narrow boundaries of legal religious observance to become missionaries of faith, to see in yourself God’s gifts given to grow and share with others so as to build up the Kingdom of God, or are you afraid, unsure and uncertain of what it is that God requires? Don’t be, remember Micah’s words, God asks us , ‘to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God’. ( Micah 6.8)

 Fr Robin Gibbons is an Eastern Rite Chaplain for the Melkite Greek Catholics in Britain.