Saints of God, the Lord be with you!
As we come to the end of the liturgical year, this Sunday’s Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 25: 14-30) is a fitting one for some end of the year reflection. The parable of the rich man who gives his servants some talents (money) and asks them to increase their sums in his absence. We all know how it goes, two servants do, and they share in their master’s joy. While the third “out of fear buried (his sum) in the ground.”
We can reflect on this parable in a number of ways.
The first and most obvious: What are my talents? It could be singing, being empathetic or encouraging? How have I used them? Have I kept them hidden, used them to showcase myself out of vanity and pride, or used them for the uplifting of others?
The second point of reflection is: How have I used my wealth and my assets? Have I hoarded them for a rainy day? Have I squandered them through over consumption? Have I shared some of my wealth by giving in the weekly collection? Have I donated to charity or helped the poor, especially our “homeless family outside the door of the church? Do I base my worth on how much is in my bank account?
The final—and, I think, most important—point for reflection is how we used our time. Once time is gone, it can never be recovered. Have I used time wisely or foolishly by watching too much TV, or YouTube, playing video games, or overuse of the computer? Have I spent enough time in solitude and quiet? Has my time been unbalanced by overwork? Have I had time to enjoy family, friends, hobbies? Have I used some of my time volunteering in my community and parish?
This is the perfect time to reflect on out talents, our wealth, and the gift of time. Now is the time to use them wisely if we haven’t’ been. Now is the time to plant the seeds for the upcoming New Liturgical year. Now is the time to want to share our Master’s joy by using our talents wisely.
– Fr. Steve