1Reflection for Sunday November 15, Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Matthew 25:14-30

Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one– to each according to his ability. 

Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.  

After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ 

Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ 

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter?  

Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’”

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Reflection:

The story is told about an elderly woman who died. While her soul was on a journey he saw two portals which were near each other. One portal had the markings of heaven and the other had hell, the elderly woman chose the heavenly portal of course. When she was about to enter the heavenly portal she was asked by an angel about the things that she did while she was alive. And he rattled off her impressive worldly achievements.     

Then, the angel asked her again, “How about regarding your faith what have you done? The elderly woman said: “I went to Holy Mass every day” then, the angel said: “Have you shared your Catholic faith and have you helped those who were in need?” The elderly woman said: No.   

Do we recognize that the Lord has given us talent/s to help Him advance His teachings in this world? Many of us are not aware of it because we are busy investing our God given talents for this world alone. But truth be told, we are mandated by God to use whatever talents that we have not for this world alone. The Lord mandates us also to use our talents to grow and propagate our faith.  

Whether we like it or not our day of reckoning will eventually come. There God will ask us this question: What have you done to the talent/s that I had given you? Did you properly use it to help those who were in need? Did you use it to advance my teachings?  

Some of us will answer in the affirmative. Others will be on the negative for the reason that we only used our God given talents for our own self interest: To earn a living, to fulfill a lifelong ambition, to go online and get busy with facebook and so forth.  

Others would even have excuses like: How can I use my talents for the church when I don’t know anybody there? How can I give my talents for the church when I don’t even have enough time for my family? However, if there’s a will to be of service to God there would be a way. God will find that way for us. We simply have to initiate it first and God will be there to see us through. 

Someday God will ask you: What have you done to the talent/s that I gave you? How will you answer God during that time? – Marino J. Dasmarinas