God is a loving and merciful Father, but is also a just God, Fr. Schaller said in the bulletin of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. 

"One only needs to recall the parable of the Prodigal Son to confirm that the Father is a loving and merciful God. And yet, He is a just God. Though always ready to forgive the repentant, God still expects us to be accountable," Fr. Schaller said in the bulletin. "The parable in today’s Gospel (the parable of the Talents) indicates that a response from us is expected and is necessary. Though God is merciful, He is not indulgent."

God expects us to do things for Him, just like any good father would. We should not be afraid that He asks this of us, but should show love and devotion to our Father. 

"The First Sunday of Advent, and the beginning of a new Liturgical Year, is just two weeks away. Nearly the whole of this past year has been a time of upheaval, disruption, unrest and fearfulness," Fr. Schaller said in the bulletin. "The temporal order – things of this world – will always be a challenge. It is both a spiritual and psychological relief to start the new church year. I expect we will continue to experience the difficulties of this world. But it is a great consolation to draw our attention to Our Lord’s first coming, and the preparation we annually make to celebrate the birth of Him who makes all things new."