Something the Gospel message is simple: be faithful in small things before being entrusted with great ones (cf. Lk. 16:1-13). That simple truth is powerful enough to carry an entire movie plot.
In the movie The Ultimate Gift, Jason Stevens is a trust fund kid who has to learn some lessons in life before he receives his inheritance from his grandfather. In the family, everybody knows that he is leading a dissolute life and is likely to get himself into more trouble if he receives all of his inheritance at once. So, before giving him the inheritance, his grandfather prepared 12 gifts for him. He receives gifts such as work, family, gratitude, and love – each lesson shaping his character until, by the end, he is ready for a far greater inheritance. He lives out one of the lessons from today’s Gospel: to take on big responsibilities, you should start with small ones.
The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones (Lk. 16:10).
Small, Faithful Steps
We often forget that greatness begins with small, faithful steps. I remember when I worked at a pizza place in high school, there was a clear progression. I started washing pots and pans. Then I went on to slice pizzas. Following that, I was able to build the pizzas and roll out the dough. Finally, I was able to man the cash register. Lesser responsibilities led to greater ones, always demanding honesty and hard work. Jesus wants honesty and hard work, proclaiming true justice to the people. In the same way, God entrusts us with small responsibilities so we can grow into greater ones. This is the message the prophet Amos drives home in the first reading.
Amos, Prophet of Justice
Amos prepared the way for Jesus, who would place himself at the center as the way to accomplish true justice. The prophet decries those who cheat the poor. Those in power are often tempted to take advantage of the weak. Jesus condemns such injustice, but goes deeper: we are to live with integrity, because only then can He truly be Lord of our lives. This connects with the second reading on peace. Integrity extends beyond justice into the way we live each day.
Faithfulness in little things requires self-control. Self-control builds peace. Peace makes real service possible. Paul exhorts Timothy to
lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity (1 Tim. 2:2).
Quiet and Tranquil Life, for Evangelization
When we hear about a quiet and tranquil life, we are apt to confuse this with a lazy lifestyle. Rather, Paul challenges his young disciple in this way so that he can preach the Gospel more effectively. Like the main character, Jason Stevens, from the movie The Ultimate Gift, we are more likely to serve others effectively when our own lives reflect peace and calm. If we are overwhelmed by a hasty lifestyle, we focus too much on ourselves and become incapable of serving effectively. To serve effectively, we must learn self-control. Start small. Be faithful. God will do the rest.
Which Gift of God Do I need?
The other day, I heard about a reflection some of the young men in one of our Bible studies were making. They were talking about the fruits of the Holy Spirit and suddenly they thought, “Which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit I would most like to have?” They went through the list in Galatians 5:22-23, when one caught their eye. They all agreed that they needed greater self-control. If I want to grow in holiness, I need to learn to control my own emotions, desires and impulses so I can seek God’s will above all else. That conversation revealed tremendous wisdom from those undergraduates at a FOCUS Bible study. What about you? Which fruit of the Spirit would you most like to grow in?
Jason Stevens learned the same lesson. When he began to control himself, he began to see the needs of others and saw that true love was more important than the fame and pleasure he had been seeking previously.
If you want God to entrust you with great things, begin today by being faithful in the small ones – studies, friendships, prayer. That is the path to a life of justice, peace, and love.
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