Today’s readings… (1 Chronicles 9), (Ezekiel 22), (Luke 19)
 
    We read today in Luke 19 that Jesus told “a parable … because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately” [v.11]  Jesus was the centre of attention of the ordinary people, he had a triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding on a colt. (v.30-38).  The crowd rejoiced but how many thought about his parable?
    It was about a nobleman giving money (minas) to ten servants, one had ten minas, a lot of ‘money’ to use in serving the ‘nobleman’ for a mina was the equivalent of about 3 months’ pay for a labourer.  One labourer did nothing with the mina he received, he simply kept it safe. He is full of reasons (excuses) as to why he did not make use of it!  We humans are good at doing that.
    The nobleman of course represents Jesus. Those who believe in him, cannot be’ passive’ in their belief, if belief is ‘real’ it will result in action.  Those who serve him faithfully and increase their ‘minas’ are put in positions of “authority” [v.17] when he establishes his kingdom. The ‘money’ he gives represents the abilities and opportunities his servants experience. We read in Luke 12 v.48, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him (or her) much will be required.”
     But there is a larger class of others who are not interested in being his servants, we read, “But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to reign over us” [v.14]  People give tacit or active support these days to those who speak disparagingly of the Bible.  As the message of Christ and his coming kingdom spreads throughout the world people are faced with a choice to “love” or “hate” to be “for” or “against” – there is no neutral position in God’s eyes, an attitude of ‘hate’ is filling the world today.
   The parable ends (v.27) “But as for these … who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.” We recall our thoughts yesterday on the near total lack of ‘faith’ and world-wide traumas to occur as Jesus is about to return – what of our own faith?  Let us recognise it is impossible to be neutral.