33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time – Parable of Talents (Mt 25:14-30)

The Facts and the Risks in God’s Blessings

Introduction

- Each and every one of us has talents and abilities that are necessary for our life. The talents can be of various types. It can be the ability to play, sing and dance, pray and intercede, console others, positive outlook, health, compassion, spiritual gifts, etc. Even our ability to smile and console others may be a talent.

- The talents may be buried, or increase and use it for selfish interests alone, or develop and use it for the Kingdom of God.

Content

- Three Facts that Jesus teaches us through the parable of talents

1. There is a master

§ The master is God Himself who has entrusted us with talents and abilities.

§ In the parable it is clearly mentioned that ‘He entrusted His possessions to them’. Therefore it is His possessions that we share.

§ Since He is the master each one should be accountable to Him. It happens on the last judgment day when we stand in front of him to give the accounts.

2. He has given us talents.

§ Talents are given according to each one’s capacity and necessity (in the parable the first one received 5, the second 2 and the third 1)

§ Some people are not aware of the talents that they have received from God. It is good to reflect on what are the talents we have received. If possible make a list of them which would lead us to thank Him all the more.

3. Talents are to be developed

§ There are two kinds of people in developing the talents – Risk takers and Care takers. Risk takers (the one who received 5 talents and 2 talents in the parable) develop it, while the Care takers do not.

- Two Risks / Dangers

1. Laziness

§ It can be because of many factors such as not aware of the value of the talents, or our outlook towards like, or fear etc.

§ The basic form of laziness is “I will do it after some time / next day / next time”

§ “Time and Tide wait for none”.

2. Comparison

§ Comparison means comparing what we have with others. It would end up in either unhealthy competition or disappointment or even spiritual blindness.

§ Let us remember the parable. Lord did not entrust His wealth equally. It is done according to the will of God and the capacity of human being. Therefore, stop comparison and thank God for what we have received.

Conclusion

- Let us be the people who accept God as the Master of what we are and what we have.

- Let us be the people who thank God always for the blessings we have received from Him.

- Let us be the people who develop the entrusted talents and use it for the glory of God.