Cycle A - Year II:
16 November 2014: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical color: Green)
Matthew 25:14-30 (or 25:14-15, 19-21)
Making use of God-given talents!
It is said that every person has some kind of talent that sometimes are unique from the rest. Do you know what is your special talent? How do you make use of your God-given talents?
The Word of God for this Sunday shares with us timely lesson on how to deal with our God-given talents.
The parable of the talents speaks first of the Master's trust in his servants.
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While he goes away he leaves them with his money to be used and invested wisely. When he returned the servant entrusted with five talents made another five more. The servant with two talents produced two more. But the servant with one talent produced nothing; he dug a hole in the ground and buried his Mater's money.
The essence of the parable touches on the concept of responsibility. The Master expected his servants to be productive in the use of his money entrusted in their care. Each servant was faithful up to a certain point. But the servant who just buried his Master's money was irresponsible.
In practical life, today's parable provides us an opportunity to reflect on how well we use our gifts and talents for the sake of the Lord and His kingdom. In concrete terms, it challenges us to use well the time, treasure, and talents God has given us.
Yet the Gospel parable also contains a warning. We are drawing near the end of another liturgical year, which reminds us that our time on earth is not unlimited. Any moment could be our last. That is why we have to make good use of the years that God grants us by working for the love of God and neighbor. We must resolve not to waste time by worrying unnecessarily about the past or being excessively concerned about the future. Our Lord Jesus promises to give us the grace we need to meet the challenges of the future, as well as to repent of the sins of our past. Jesus asks us in today's Gospel to entrust ourselves to Him that we might cooperate with Him in the building up of His kingdom. When we use our talents to do our share in the evangelization work of the Church, then we also become trustworthy servants of the Lord.
The Church also observes this Sunday "World Day of Remembrance for Road Victims". Let us pray for the eternal repose of the souls of road victims and the healing of their grieving families. May all those given the privilege to use the road become more conscious of the safety of all while on the road.