In my job, I work with companies on how they hire, train, and utilize their employees.
I teach them, if you are going to hire someone
to operate a shovel, make sure they are fit for the job; hire someone to drive,
make sure they are good drivers; or hire someone to handle money, make sure it is
the right person.
In other words, make sure the person has
the talent for the job.
The word talent in the English language
is derived directly from the parable we hear today. In the parable, a talent is
a unit of wealth, a lot of money. It has been estimated that the amount of talents
given to the servants would be $3 million dollars in today’s money.
In modern English, we understand talent
as our unique gifts and abilities. Our talents are our God given riches.
God loves us and has given us all talents.
All have some special gift or ability. Jesus tells us we are to do something with
it. “Love one another.”
In His wisdom, God gave us the freedom to
use our gifts as we see fit. It was true in Jesus’ time and it is true today.
Jesus share that truth in this parable.
The master gives the talents to the
servants in amounts according to their ability.
In these gifts, no matter the amount or
what they are, we are called to be holy.
We are probably
going to stumble; but, get back up and
continúe to love. After all, we are all simply
sinners who keep on trying to be saints.
How are we using our talents?
Some have a talent for music. They lovingly
share it with others. It is a talent used to enrich the world and the lives of others.
It is a gift used to give thanks and praise to God, minister to others, teach, bring
consolation, and bring peace.
From investing that talent of music, a
person can give it back to God doubled or tripled or more in the love shared
and the lives touched.
And God will tell them “Well done my good
and faithful servant.”
Some are given the gift of family. God
tells us families are to be fruitful and multiply. A family is a vessel of love.
Fruitfulness is sharing that love and faith. Multiplying is the teaching of children,
siblings, extended family, and all those they touch God’s love for us.
There is young man on my grandson’s soccer
team. He comes from a good Catholic Family. They are a fruitful family of faith
with many children. During a soccer game, a child on the opposing team used profanity.
This child of God, the product of this fruitful family of faith, immediately said
to his team, we need to pray for that guy.
He’s a seven year old boy.
The next week at practice, he told his team
they should go to the seven year old girls team practicing on the next field to
find girlfriends..
By the gift of family, his parents are sharing
their faith. It is a family that shows their love for Jesus and others by example.
They teach their children and all those they touch with boldness and joy and praise.
Their gift is fruitful and multiplying. Gifts, they return to God.
God will tell them “Well done my good and
faithful servants.”
Each and every one of us was given the gift
of love. Many instead of sharing it will bury it inside them self. They fail to
share God’s love but instead, they keep it in their own fearful heart.
That’s not what God wants from us. That’s
not what Jesus teaches us.
God wants us to be Holy.
Jesus tells us we should love others
and God by bringing our talents to the world.
Friends, some are given more talent
than others; but, all that is asked of us is to use what we have been given. It does not matter if your gift is music or family
or labor or a smile; share it with the love of Jesus.
Don't hide it, put it to work to grow God’s
heavenly kingdom in this world; make the world a better place.
And
maybe someday by his grace, God will tell us “Well done my good and faithful
servants.”
You, me... We are all called to holiness.
Our holiness, our closeness to God will
be measured by how we love others through the sharing or our gifts, abilities, and
talent. We are called to grow that love.
We will stumble, but get up and continue
to share that love. After all, we are all simply sinners who keep on trying to be
saints.
Be good, be holy, and preach the gospel
by sharing your love and your talents with the world. Amen.
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