What Happened to the Others

Homily for Wednesday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time

Both of the readings for today’s celebration of the Eucharist are rather lengthy. Consequently, I will try to keep this short.

This parable appears in the Gospels in several different forms. In the Gospel of Saint Luke, there are 10 servants who each receive a coin. What happened to the other seven? We only hear about the first, the second, and the third.

Sometimes what we do not know, or what is left out, may be as important to explore as what we do know. While there hasn’t been much written about the other seven, just as there isn’t anything written about the nine lepers who did not return to thank Jesus for their healing, they obviously were important enough to be included in the story. This tells us something about God and his relationship with us.

The inspired words of Scripture are not just object lessons. They are a kind of contextual theater. They occur in community. We each have parts to play in the drama of salvation. Nobody is unimportant. Sometimes we are the first servant, sometimes the third, and sometimes we don’t reappear at all. However, in all places and in all times, God is present, calling us to communion with him and with one another. Everything God desires for us is good. We have much for which to be grateful.