“In this period of crisis today, it is
important not to turn in on ourselves, burying our own talent, our spiritual,
intellectual, and material riches, everything that the Lord has given us; but,
rather to open ourselves, to be supportive, to be attentive to others. Set
your stakes on great ideals, the ideals that enlarge the heart, the ideals of
service that make your talents fruitful. Life is not given to us to
be jealously guarded for ourselves, but is given to us so that we may give it
in turn.” - Pope Francis, to an
audience on April 24, 2013
Gospel
Text: (MT 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.'"
"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.'"
In 2013 Pope Francis tweeted,
"Being with Jesus demands that we go out from ourselves, and from living a
tired and habitual faith."
It is so easy to live a "status
quo" faith, especially if we live in reasonable comfort. We happily
continue on "maintenance mode," and do what we have always done, as
we have always done: Sunday Mass, some family prayer, occasional charity
contributions, perhaps even some participation in the parish.
There is
nothing wrong with this, except that the Lord expects something more from us.
He demands that we see how gifted we are, not just with material resources and
laudable talents but also with dreams to do better before and for God.
None of
us can say that we are exempted from somehow bringing and sharing God's Good
News to others: that was promised for us at our baptism. Each one of us should
realize that, as God's servants and stewards, we are obliged to do well in small
matters in order to somehow dream of accomplishing great things for the Lord.
Today, each one of us, in our own
unique way and with our unique talents, is called to be bold and daring for the
Lord. What more can we do for the Lord? How do we set the world and our friends
ablaze with God's love and mercy? How do we radiate Christ to our friends?
Let us be
courageous and take heart that we can do more.
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