This is how the “deaf” hear and the “blind” will see…And this is how we arrive at our “final destination”…..By the way - What I just wrote is on the “final exam”

Today at Holy Mass in the Gospel of St Matthew, Jesus tells us a story about three men who were given talents….."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”……It is so easy to lose prospective regarding just how blessed we are in relation to the rest of the world living here in America…..With that said - Do we realize that one phone call from a doctor about our health can change our entire life?…...One natural disaster can change our life in a heart beat?…..One unforeseen family tragedy can change our life for ever!…..What should this reality tell us if we ponder it?……We have no control - None! - And everything we have is a gift from God - Everything and Every moment!….Now, back to our story today from the Gospel…St Matthew tells us that the three men who were given talents by the King were expected to use them…..Were they to use them just to benefit themselves?…..Or…… Were they to acknowledge the gift from the King and take responsibility to steward their talents to build the Kingdom of God? - Some many say after reading this - Why should I do that?….."I worked hard for everything I have - Its mine!".....Well, that is true - However, what if that "talent" you have is taken away just as easily as it was given to you - In a heart beat!?…..Should we not acknowledge reality? - Because it is reality - Everything we have is a gift……How easy it is to hear the words of Christ and not take him at his word…..Mother Teresa would always say….....”I take Jesus at his word”….Don’t you think that is a good idea?…..The man rose from the dead! - That is pretty impressive - Right?…….Take Jesus at his word…………”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”

“I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you”

Gratitude! - This cannot be learned by reading a book….We must experience life and it is through those experiences, both good and bad that we are formed as Children of God………….God teaches us through life’s experiences, I think most people would agree with that statement…However, just like the parable told to us in the Bible today at Mass, once we are “gifted” with something taught to us by God - God does expect us to put that knowledge to work…..And if we choose not to - There are consequences - Am I off base here?……………My parents went to Mass every Sunday but I would not classify them as “Holy-Rollers”….....However, I watched with my own two eyes how both my mother and father made deep sacrifices for me and my brother…..They did not have to say a word, their example said it all…....Why bring this up?…....Because example is everything and to give a solid Catholic witness, one must rely on God’s grace to give such an example…....Due to our fallen nature, human beings tend to gravitate towards being selfish….That is everyone, it comes natural to all of humanity - Bar-none!…This is why we need God’s grace - And in order to receive it, we must avail ourselves to it…………Grace opens our eyes to reality, it strengthens our will and it also enables us to do what we could not do without it - If you take one thing from this reflection - Take that statement to the bank!…….When the world witnesses the “gift of self” by the Catholic faithful, even the hardest of hearts are impacted….If we take our faith seriously and many reading this reflection today do - Then we must strive to give our self away - First in our family and then to the world!…It is in the “gift of self” that we not only become Christ-like, but we transform the world around us………Conversely, we can be “the smartest person in the room”…....Say “all the right things”….....Write books……And if the world does not witness the “gift of self” from us, everything we do, to a larger degree will have very little impact…..Jesus gave us the example…That is why God permitted him to die the way he did on the Cross…....Christ poured out every ounce of blood he had for mankind…..This was to teach us - Go and do likewise!……This is how we “wake up” the world - The only way by the way! - And only by the example of giving ourself away will Catholics transform the world

“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”

Today once again Jesus in the Gospel of St Matthew teaches us about what it means to use our talents to build the Kingdom of God on earth…..This is on the “final exam” - So it is in our own interest to pay attention to the message - Don’t you think?……….When we read the Gospels, Jesus tells us many things - We should step back and ask ourselves - Do we take what this man says literally?……Because here is “the deal”….If you believe that Jesus Christ is God and rose from the dead - Then one has to believe EVERYTHING else the man said - Again, step back for a moment and think about what I just wrote - And if we believe what Jesus said, that implies we have something to do - We have a “task at hand” - That we must cooperate with God’s grace and that cooperation enables us to be sanctified - And that is how we arrive at our “final destination” - Right? - I like to think I am being very linear and logical here - Don’t you agree?……......….”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”…….The most powerful statement the world has ever processed or for that matter “sees” and “hears” is the witness of “the total gift of self”….This is how the “deaf” hear and the “blind” will see…And this is how we arrive at our “final destination”…..By the way - What I just wrote is on the “final exam”……….JMJ