The fate of the Buried Coin

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season:  Thirty Third Week : Wednesday*

*Gospel :  Luke 19:11-28*

*First Reading : 2 Macc 7:1,20-31*

*Responsorial Psalm : 17: 1-15*

*The fate of the Buried Coin* 

*1) The buried Coin*

*A) He refuses responsibility*

He was entrusted with something precious, not to guard it passively, but to engage with it, grow it, and use it.

*B) He acts out of fear*

He says, “I was afraid, so I hid your talent in the ground.”

Fear becomes his master, not the true Master.

*C) He misunderstands the giver*

He sees the master as harsh and demanding rather than trusting or empowering.

His distorted view of the master leads to a distorted life.

*D) He chooses safety over fruitfulness*

What he kept “safe” ultimately becomes fruitless, proving that safety is not always faithfulness.

So the buried coin symbolizes: Wasted opportunity, Unused gifts, Fear-driven living, Misunderstanding of God or purpose, The shrinking of life instead of its growth

*2) Buried Coin an Our life*

We bury our “talents” today whenever we:

✔ Hide our abilities

You may have creativity, leadership, compassion, intelligence, or artistic skills—but they remain hidden because of fear, laziness, self-doubt, or comparison.

✔ Avoid risks

Growth always requires stepping out, experimenting, and sometimes failing.

The servant never risks anything; therefore, he never grows.

✔ Let fear run our decisions

Many lives shrink not because of lack of talent, but because of fear of criticism, failure, or uncertainty.

✔ Refuse to develop ourselves

We bury our strengths when we don’t train them, nourish them, or invest in them.

✔ Live below our calling

A buried talent means a buried mission—a life smaller than it could have been.

The parable invites us to courageously use, develop, and share the abilities, opportunities, and gifts entrusted to us.

*3) Lessons from the buried coin*

*A) “A buried gift becomes a buried self.”* :When we hide what is best in us—our voice, our courage, our abilities— a part of who we are slowly dies underground.

*B) “Fear feels safe, but it kills growth.”* : The servant chose fear and ended with nothing.

Growth requires trust, risk, and action.

*C) “God doesn’t ask for success—He asks for faithfulness.”* :The master praises the servants not for results alone but for their faithful engagement.

The opposite of faithfulness isn’t failure—it’s burying the gift and doing nothing.

*D)  “Your talent is not only for you.”* : By hiding it, the servant deprived others of the fruit that might have come from his work. Our gifts are meant to bless others, not sit underground.

*E ) “What you don’t use, you lose.”* : Not as punishment, but as reality: Unused skills weaken, Unused opportunities disappear, Unused callings atrophy.

*G) “Every small talent matters.”* :The servant with one talent could have done something simple—but he didn’t. This parable encourages even those who think their gift is “small” to still use it.

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*