Pro 31:10-13, 19-20, 30:31; 1 Thes 5:1-6; Mt 25:14-15, 19-21
In today’s gospel, Jesus tells a parable in order to teach his disciples about what they are to do to prepare for the Lord’s second coming. Like the servants in the parable, each one of us is given “talents” or gifts to use and develop. Many would be interested in the amount of talents that a person possesses. And yet, in the eyes of God, what matters most is how we use our abilities to serve the needs of others. Using talents for the common good is the right way to prepare for our ultimate encounter with God.
In the parable, the Master gives no specific instruction on what to do with the talents. Bury them? Invest them in business? Deposit them in a bank? Or, use them to help the poor? The servants are left on their own to see what good will the talents be for the service of the Master. In life, the Lord Jesus would like his disciples to follow good lives. How concretely? We have to decide ourselves in light of the challenges of the gospel.
The Master is happy with the two servants for using and investing their talents well, making double their amounts upon His return. But He was greatly upset to the third servant for being cowardly and for leaving the talents unproductive. In the same way, Jesus would be pleased if we put to use our individual talents because it is only in doing so that they are enhanced. When we use our talents to serve the Christian community, we also grow and mature. The Lord would feel bad if we leave our talents unused because this would not be good for ourselves and for everyone.
Many would think that one has to do great things to make a difference in the world. However, the gospel reminds that God would be greatly pleased with the small, ordinary things we do with great love. In the first reading, for example, a wife is highly praised for being faithful to her daily duties in the family. She is like that servant in the parable whom the Master commends: “Because you are trustworthy with small matters, greater tasks will be given to you. Come, and share your Master’s joy.”
As a whole, the liturgy inspires us to see and appreciate our individual gifts and talents, no matter what they are. Let us show to God that we are grateful for His gifts by using them to advance the realization of His reign on earth. Hopefully, when we come to see God face to face, we can say: “Lord God, I have tried to do my best in order to serve You”.
There is a true story of a hotel receptionist who was manning the front desk on one stormy night. As the rain fell in torrents and the wind blew hard, a couple arrived at the hotel to ask for a room. The receptionist politely said, “I’m sorry, but all the rooms in this hotel are taken. However, I don’t like to drive you away in this turbulent weather. If you don’t mind, I’m offering my quarters at the basement. It is not so comfortable, but you can take refuge there tonight.”
After one month, the receptionist got an unexpected long distance call. It was from the man whom he had accommodated in his quarters. The man on the other line made a surprising offer to him. He said, “I am making you the manager of one of my hotels. If you have been trustworthy in your job as a receptionist, I’m sure you will do as well as a manager.
The receptionist turned manager reportedly established the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, one of the famous and prestigious hotels in the world.
(The story is from Cravings From the Heart by Simplicio Apalisok, Jr.)
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