https://bible.usccb.org/bible/
We all know who the owner was in today’s Gospel – Jesus. And what journey did He make? The Ascension.
I can’t help but think about how generous Jesus was to leave us everything we need before setting out on His journey. As the parable goes, some of us receive more talents than others. What matters to Jesus is not how many talents we have or how great our abilities are. What matters is how faithfully we use what God has entrusted to us.
Our talents are not just abilities or skills. They also include our time, faith, kindness, generosity, and our love for others. Consider what happened when the first 2 servants were generous and faithful to their master.
- More people found work,
- more families had food on the table,
- and the whole community experienced an economic boom.
Imagine our parish community flourishing in the same way! An important part of evangelization is to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. If you can’t remember them, it’s ok. They are on Seri, Google, and ChatGPT.
How lonely it must’ve been for the servant who buried his talent, perhaps out of fear or because he believed he had to take care of himself. He didn’t know his master personally, only professionally. His work was a duty, not an act of gratitude for all he had been given.
So he could only think of himself, and that’s where he buried his gift. Perhaps, comparing himself to the other two, he wasn’t good or strong enough, or he had too little to offer to make a difference. He missed the story about the poor widow who gave all she had to the treasury, two small coins, which were more than all the others combined.
Gospel Challenge:
Maybe those two small coins are a word of encouragement to someone, a phone call or visit to someone who is lonely, or a helping hand or a prayer for someone who is struggling, all of which become a beautiful gift to Jesus in those folks.
We don’t have to be great or perfect for Jesus; we need to be faithful and grateful for all we have, which others can enjoy with us.
Oh, to hear those welcoming words of Jesus at the gate of heaven,
“Well done, good and faithful servant. Come and share your master’s joy.”
Love Your Neighbor!
Fr. Rick Pilger, I.C.
www.bscchurch.com
www.rosminians.com
