Come, Share Your Master's Joy!

​This morning, in chapel, my eye glanced passingly at the gospel passage; I noticed it was quite long.  Though I wondered what it would be about, my focus returned to the first reading, which I would be proclaiming from the ambo in a short while.  
 
Having finished meditating on the epistle and psalm, I turned to the gospel, anxious to see what it would be about.  
 
As I read, I realized it was the familiar parable of the talents.  
 
Later, at breakfast, the question arose as to what a talent was and how much it was worth.  A quick search now, on my part, showed that five talents would be worth about  two million dollars by today’s standards.  I had had no idea previously.
 
Anyway, as I continued my morning scripture reading, the refrain, “Come, share your master’s joy,” struck a chord in my heart.  
 
It may be unique to Matthew’s gospel.
 
These words sounded so tender, so beautiful.  The master in the parable was inviting a mere servant to share his joy.  
 
As this is a gospel parable, we know it has implications beyond the surface, and possible implications for us.  
 
Although I know the words of this phrase would refer largely to the end of a faithful person’s life, when he finally meets his Lord, I realized that this gratuitous gift of sharing our Master’s joy is not entirely reserved for after one’s particular judgment.  
 
Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit; it comes to us through the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives.  
 
As children of God, baptized and confirmed, we are enabled to taste the joy of our Lord on this side of heaven.  
 
We are enabled to be joyful investors of His gifts, and joyful laborers in His vineyard because we are not alone; He is with us!