Ezekiel 12:1-12 / Matthew 18:21 - 19:1
To be a messenger of bad news is not at all a pleasant task. We can be assured that that there will be resistance at the least and hostility at the worse.
And neither is it a pleasant task to give an unfavourable assessment of a subordinate or an employee or a student.
There is always the possibility of rebuttals and arguments against the assessment and that can end up in a stand-off.
For the prophet Ezekiel in the 1st reading, he was tasked to be a symbol for the House of Israel - a symbol of exile.
He was not just a prophet of doom; he had to act out the message of doom. It was as much a distress for him as well as for the people.
On the other hand, the gospel is about the good news of mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation.
The first servant in the gospel parable could have been a messenger of that good news.
He could have shared the mercy and forgiveness he received from his master with his fellow servant and rejoiced together.
But he chose otherwise and ended up in a miserable state, besides being bad news to his fellow servant.
To be servants of good news or bad news is our choice. May we remember that good news brings about mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation. We don't have to think what bad news will bring.