👉🏽👉🏽👉🏽The #sixth #Week of The #Great #Lent The Week of the #Faithful #Servant ( #Gëbre Hër )
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, as we continue our journey through the sacred period of Great Lent, the Holy Church in her wisdom sets before us the lessons of "Gëbre Hër," the week of the Good Servant. This week is a continuation of the themes introduced in the preceding weeks, particularly following the reflections of the Mount of Olives week ( Debre zeyit) and it directs our thoughts toward the final judgment and our accountability before God.
The Meaning of "Gëbre Hër"
"Gëbre Hër" translates to "Good and Faithful Servant," a title that recalls the parable of the talents, which is at the heart of this week’s meditation. The faithful servant is the one who, having received a trust from his master, diligently labors and returns his talents with profit, while the unfaithful servant is condemned for his negligence.
The Theme of Judgment and Accountability
In the previous week (the Fifth Week of Lent, the Mount of Olives), we contemplated the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This week, we extend that reflection with the words of the Psalmist:
"You will repay everyone according to his deeds" (Psalm 61:12).
As Christ himself taught while seated on the Mount of Olives, His disciples inquired privately about the signs of His return. He spoke to them first about the destruction of Jerusalem and then about the final judgment. To illustrate this profound truth, our Lord told three parables, each offering insight into the fate of the faithful and the negligent.
The Three Parables of Judgment
1. The Faithful and Wicked Servants (Matthew 24:45-51)
A master entrusts his household to a servant before departing on a journey. The faithful servant fulfills his duty and is rewarded, while the wicked servant, presuming upon his master’s delay, neglects his responsibilities and faces punishment.
2. The Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
Ten virgins await the bridegroom, but only five bring extra oil for their lamps. The prepared are welcomed into the wedding feast, while the unprepared are left in the darkness.
3. The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
This is the focal parable of this week. A master entrusts his servants with talents (a measure of wealth). Two servants invest and multiply their talents, while the third buries his, paralyzed by fear and sloth. When the master returns, he rewards the faithful and punishes the slothful servant by casting him into the outer darkness.
Lessons from the Parable of the Talents
In this parable, several key themes emerge:
1. The Master’s Trust: Each servant receives talents according to his ability. This is a sign of divine providence—God grants each of us grace according to what we can bear and use.
2. Responsibility and Effort: The first two servants labor diligently, understanding that what they have is not their own but a trust given for the service of their master. The third servant, however, refuses to act, demonstrating his lack of faith and fear.
3. The Master’s Judgment: Upon the master’s return, he demands an account from each servant. Those who have increased their talents receive greater responsibilities and enter into the joy of their lord. The lazy servant, however, faces severe condemnation.
The Universal Call to Use Our Gifts
The Church reminds us of this parable annually during this week to urge us to reflect on how we use the divine grace given to us. When Christ returns, He will ask each of us what we have done with the spiritual gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities entrusted to us. Excuses will not suffice just as Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent, but neither was excused. The failure of Adam and Eve was not mere weakness, but a failure to use the divine grace granted to them.
Continues👇🏽