Reflection on the Parables of the Talents (I)
Dearest brothers and sisters,
I would like to share some of my reflection on the the Parable of the Talents. You can read the full passages here: Mat 25:14-30
We all know the story. It's about the three servants whom the Master entrusted with his properties. The first is given 5 talents, the second is 2, and the third is only 1. And we are all aware of the end of the story, that two of the servants return what they have traded to the Master while the last one hid it on the ground. The fates of the three of them are popularly known.
I believe that we all know the message of the story. That God wants us to use the talents that He has given us. However, we have this tendency to skip the bible passages for familiar stories, such as this one, and miss the small messages from the passage.
And so let me share my little thoughts.
This passage is proclaimed on the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time (A). The first reading is taken from the book of Proverbs (Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31). It speaks about how beautiful it is to have a God fearing wife. And so the responsorial psalm sings "Blessed are those who fear the Lord" (Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5). And the second reading is taken from Paul's first letter to the thessalonians (1 Thes 5:1-6). Paul encourages the people to "stay alert and sober" in waiting for the coming of the Day of the Lord.
And then the Gospel speaks about this parable, the parable of the talents. It is much related to the second reading and the first as well. Let us start from the second reading.
The Gospel speaks of a Master who went for a journey and entrusted the servants with His properties. And after a while, He returned.
Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
(Mat 25:19)
And so the story is about those servants who were waiting for His master return. And St. Paul also speaks about this Master return, the Day of the Lord. And on this day the Gospel says that the master will settle accounts with the servants. And because of this, St. Paul told us to be "alert and sober". What accounts is this all about? It's about what we do with our lives.
I used to read the parable of the Talents in this way: that God has given me gifts and talents in my lives, and I have to use it to my very best, that's all. But one thing I forgot: my LIFE is a gift.
And so the question of "what do we do with the talents?" is not only about whether we develop our gifts, talents, and abilitities, but it is also about "what do we do with our Lives?". And the gift of Life is clearly seen in our very soul. What do we do with our soul?
We often forget to take care of our inner lives, that is our soul. How many of us would think that praying is as important as eating? How many of us would consider hearing the Word of God as important as studying and working? How many of us would see that receiving the Holy Eucharist is as important as having a good physical health? And so St. Paul helps to remind us today to "be alert and sober", for we have to give account of what we do with our lives.
However, we shouldn't look at God as a cruel Judge, no He is not. He is a Loving Father. But what does a Father mean to us? Do we see Him as a Father? God is Father because God gives Lives. God is the Giver of Life, and so our lives and all that we have comes from God. Well, why don't you see where your lives come from. It's from your parents, your father and mother. Without them, you do not have lives. And all our earthly father is in some way represent God as Father, the giver of Life. And that is why the Gospel say
And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
(Mat 23:9)
Not to forbid us to call our parent as father, but to remind us of God who is our true Father. And that is why we pray "Our Father".
But what does this relate to the parable. God is the Giver of Life and everything that we have. And this parable reminds us again of this truth.
"For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
(Mat 25:14-15)
It was God who Gave. The "talents" is not ours, it came from God. Our Lives and all that we have belong to God. And so when we say about "giving account to the Master", we simply giving back what belongs to God.
This is the problem with most of us. We no longer see God as the master of our lives, instead we thought we are the master. We say that this is "My Life" and so we can do with whatever we want. This is why we have abortion, euthanasia, suicide, etc, etc. We "thought" that we are the master of our lives. We all know that we came to life not by our decision, we don't make "we", you don't create "you". And so the lives you have come from someone else, that is God. As Pope John Paul II once said, "we should be at the service of life, and not as the master".
And in this lives, God gave so many things, His gifts for us: parents, family, intellects, natural abilities, talents, etc, etc. And all this He gave according to His beautiful and wonderful plan.
to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
(Mat 25:15)
You may wonder why some is given more than the others. But God gave according to His beautiful plans and His love is the same for each and everyone of us. You can read the parable again, and take a look what did the Master said to the first two servants. The first was able to make another five, while the second is only two, but to both of them, the Master said
His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
(Mat 25:21)
His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
(Mat 25:23)
Wow, the rewards are the same. The Master even did not compare the amount. He only said, "Well Done!". And this is our Loving Father, He knows best. He knows how much He should give, He knows what He should give, He knows how to make us grow to be the best we can be. He loves us and He gave His gifts according to His beautiful plans.
to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
(Mat 25:15)
Next: Reflection on the Parables of the Talents(II)
------ to be continued
I would like to share some of my reflection on the the Parable of the Talents. You can read the full passages here: Mat 25:14-30
We all know the story. It's about the three servants whom the Master entrusted with his properties. The first is given 5 talents, the second is 2, and the third is only 1. And we are all aware of the end of the story, that two of the servants return what they have traded to the Master while the last one hid it on the ground. The fates of the three of them are popularly known.
I believe that we all know the message of the story. That God wants us to use the talents that He has given us. However, we have this tendency to skip the bible passages for familiar stories, such as this one, and miss the small messages from the passage.
And so let me share my little thoughts.
This passage is proclaimed on the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time (A). The first reading is taken from the book of Proverbs (Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31). It speaks about how beautiful it is to have a God fearing wife. And so the responsorial psalm sings "Blessed are those who fear the Lord" (Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5). And the second reading is taken from Paul's first letter to the thessalonians (1 Thes 5:1-6). Paul encourages the people to "stay alert and sober" in waiting for the coming of the Day of the Lord.
And then the Gospel speaks about this parable, the parable of the talents. It is much related to the second reading and the first as well. Let us start from the second reading.
The Gospel speaks of a Master who went for a journey and entrusted the servants with His properties. And after a while, He returned.
Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
(Mat 25:19)
And so the story is about those servants who were waiting for His master return. And St. Paul also speaks about this Master return, the Day of the Lord. And on this day the Gospel says that the master will settle accounts with the servants. And because of this, St. Paul told us to be "alert and sober". What accounts is this all about? It's about what we do with our lives.
I used to read the parable of the Talents in this way: that God has given me gifts and talents in my lives, and I have to use it to my very best, that's all. But one thing I forgot: my LIFE is a gift.
And so the question of "what do we do with the talents?" is not only about whether we develop our gifts, talents, and abilitities, but it is also about "what do we do with our Lives?". And the gift of Life is clearly seen in our very soul. What do we do with our soul?
We often forget to take care of our inner lives, that is our soul. How many of us would think that praying is as important as eating? How many of us would consider hearing the Word of God as important as studying and working? How many of us would see that receiving the Holy Eucharist is as important as having a good physical health? And so St. Paul helps to remind us today to "be alert and sober", for we have to give account of what we do with our lives.
However, we shouldn't look at God as a cruel Judge, no He is not. He is a Loving Father. But what does a Father mean to us? Do we see Him as a Father? God is Father because God gives Lives. God is the Giver of Life, and so our lives and all that we have comes from God. Well, why don't you see where your lives come from. It's from your parents, your father and mother. Without them, you do not have lives. And all our earthly father is in some way represent God as Father, the giver of Life. And that is why the Gospel say
And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
(Mat 23:9)
Not to forbid us to call our parent as father, but to remind us of God who is our true Father. And that is why we pray "Our Father".
But what does this relate to the parable. God is the Giver of Life and everything that we have. And this parable reminds us again of this truth.
"For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
(Mat 25:14-15)
It was God who Gave. The "talents" is not ours, it came from God. Our Lives and all that we have belong to God. And so when we say about "giving account to the Master", we simply giving back what belongs to God.
This is the problem with most of us. We no longer see God as the master of our lives, instead we thought we are the master. We say that this is "My Life" and so we can do with whatever we want. This is why we have abortion, euthanasia, suicide, etc, etc. We "thought" that we are the master of our lives. We all know that we came to life not by our decision, we don't make "we", you don't create "you". And so the lives you have come from someone else, that is God. As Pope John Paul II once said, "we should be at the service of life, and not as the master".
And in this lives, God gave so many things, His gifts for us: parents, family, intellects, natural abilities, talents, etc, etc. And all this He gave according to His beautiful and wonderful plan.
to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
(Mat 25:15)
You may wonder why some is given more than the others. But God gave according to His beautiful plans and His love is the same for each and everyone of us. You can read the parable again, and take a look what did the Master said to the first two servants. The first was able to make another five, while the second is only two, but to both of them, the Master said
His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
(Mat 25:21)
His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
(Mat 25:23)
Wow, the rewards are the same. The Master even did not compare the amount. He only said, "Well Done!". And this is our Loving Father, He knows best. He knows how much He should give, He knows what He should give, He knows how to make us grow to be the best we can be. He loves us and He gave His gifts according to His beautiful plans.
to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
(Mat 25:15)
Next: Reflection on the Parables of the Talents(II)
------ to be continued
posted by Oka | 8:16 pm
1 Comments:
Thank you for the blessed sharing. I felt very inspired by it.
Take care, Oka
May God bless and protect you always!
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