"They left everything on the field" in an expression we hear sometimes in sports. Or, it could be phrased as "they left everything on the court" or "they left everything on the rink." The idea is the same in each case-- the team gave it all they had. Whether they won or lost (although usually the expression seems to come up when someone loses), the notion is that there is no fault in the performance of the players. They gave it their all. At the end of today's Gospel (Lk 12: 39- 48) we see the same idea, phrased in a little different way. "Much will be required of the person entrusted with much," Jesus says, "and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more." Put another way, Jesus is saying that we've got to use all the abilities we have. If we have great abilities, we should be doing great things. And if our abilities are greater still, we should put them to the use of God's Kingdom in the achievement of still greater things. We are, to borrow the sports analogy, to "leave it all on the field." We are to "give it our all." Why? Because those talents, gifts, abilities-- call it what you will-- that we have are gifts from the Divine. We didn't earn them and they aren't given to us for our own gratificataion. They are given to us to build us God's Kingdom. Sometimes we forget that, I think. We conclude that we're pretty smart or athletic or attractive or... you name it... as a result of something we did. You know, we studied hard or exercised a lot or devoted ourselves to some task with exceptional diligence. Sure, those things matter, and we should use the raw material we have hin the best way possible. "Grace builds on nature," as the expression goes. But at the end of the day, our existence, and all that we are and can be, is pure gift from God. Everything with which we are "entrusted," to use the words of the Gospel (or "given," which the NIV uses) -- all our skills, abilities, positive attributes-- are with us for God's service and to achieve God's purposes. The gifts are not to be used half-way, or sometimes, or when it works with our schedule, for the benefit of the Kingdom of God. They are God's, for God's purposes. But we have spouses, families, jobs, lives, you say, and we have to attend to them as well. Yes, that is true, and certainly God does not intend that those responsibilities (and joys, let's be honest) be ignored. In fact, God is in all those parts of our lives as well, if we pay attention to that fact. So what to do? I think the great art in life is integrating (not balancing, for that seems to imply some conflict) all of the parts of what God has given us into a whole-- tending at the right time and in the right way to the earthly and the divine so that they work together, like musicians playing their own instruments, and even different notes, into a wonderful piece of music. It can be hard work, for sure, and takes prayer and God's grace. That's how life is. Just make sure you leave everything on the field-- that's what God wants and deserves.