Luke 19, 11-27 +
CSDC and CV
CV 53b Today humanity appears much more
interactive than in the past: this shared sense of being close to one another
must be transformed into true communion. The development of peoples depends,
above all, on a recognition that the human race is a single family working
together in true communion, not simply a group of subjects who happen to live
side by side [127].
Notes: [127] Cf.
John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Evangelium
Vitae, 20: loc. cit.,
422-424.
Work is superior to every other factor connected with productivity
CDS 276 Work, because
of its subjective or personal character, is superior to every other factor
connected with productivity; this principle applies, in particular, with regard
to capital. The term “capital” has different meanings today. Sometimes it
indicates the material means of production in a given enterprise, sometimes the
financial resources employed to bring about production or used in stock market
operations. One can also speak of “human capital” to refer to human resources,
that is, to man himself in his capacity to engage in labour, to make use of
knowledge and creativity, to sense the needs of his fellow workers and a mutual
understanding with other members of an organization. The term “social capital”
is also used to indicate the capacity of a collective group to work together,
the fruit of investments in a mutually-binding fiduciary trust. This variety of
meanings offers further material for reflecting on what the relationship
between work and capital may be today.
(Luke 19, 11-27) Well done, good servant! You have been faithful
[11] While they were listening to him speak, he proceeded
to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the
kingdom of God would appear there immediately. [12] So he said, "A nobleman
went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to
return. [13] He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and
told them, 'Engage in trade with these until I return.' [14] His fellow
citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce,
'We do not want this man to be our king.'[15] But when he returned after
obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the
money, to learn what they had gained by trading. [16] The first came forward
and said, 'Sir, your gold coin has
earned ten additional ones.' [17] He replied, 'Well done, good servant! You
have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.' [18]
Then the second came and reported, 'Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.'
[19] And to this servant too he said, 'You, take charge of five cities.' [20]
Then the other servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it
stored away in a handkerchief, [21] for I was afraid of you, because you are a
demanding person; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what
you did not plant.' [22] He said to him, 'With your own words I shall condemn
you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding person, taking up what I
did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; [23] why did you not put
my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.'
[24] And to those standing by he said, 'Take the gold coin from him and give it
to the servant who has ten.' [25] But they said to him, 'Sir, he has ten gold
coins.' [26] 'I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the
one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. [27] Now as for those
enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay
them before me.'"
CDS 264 The awareness that “the form of this world is
passing away” (1 Cor 7:31) is not an exoneration from being involved in the
world, and even less from work (cf. 2 Thes 3:7-15), which is an integral part
of the human condition, although not the only purpose of life. No Christian, in
light of the fact that he belongs to a united and fraternal community, should
feel that he has the right not to work and to live at the expense of others
(cf. 2 Thes 3:6-12). Rather, all are charged by the Apostle Paul to make it a
point of honour to work with their own hands, so as to “be dependent on nobody”
(1 Thes 4:12), and to practise a solidarity which is also material by sharing
the fruits of their labour with “those in need” (Eph 4:28). Saint James defends
the trampled rights of workers: “Behold, the wages of the labourers who mowed
your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the
harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts” (Jas 5:4). Believers are
to undertake their work in the style of Christ and make it an occasion for
Christian witness, commanding “the respect of outsiders” (1 Thes 4:12).
[Initials and Abbreviations.- CSDC: Pontifical Council for Justice And Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church; - SDC: Social Doctrine of the Church; - CV: Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate (Charity in truth)]
