This Sunday the Gospel (Mt 25:14-15, 19-21) focused on the talents (i.e. money) that the land owner left with his workers. In those times a talent was usually a large heavy object worth a large sum. At first look - we assume that the talent in mention is money - since that is very often what the average person thinks about. Money to sustain life - buying food - paying rent - affording all the things that helps everyone have a comfortable life. That is very reasonable - however - the real talent - considering that God is the land owner - the servant - us - His disciples - workers - changes the whole focus of the Gospel. The One who received - one talent - buried it - returned it back to the Land owner - God - unchanged - is our focus. That One is not a sinner as many would guess - rather - an unfortunate - a person who did not have faith in the one talent - gift - they had received. Questioning what they had - what they could accomplish - what they could achieve - in fear - hid that talent - that gift - that ability. They are not alone - so many people in this modern day have received numerous gifts from God - completely unaware of those gifts - unaware that they have been empowered to accomplish many -mighty - things. Those gifts - buried deep inside their very being. They walk among us - sit next to us in the pew - stand next to us in the shopping line - going about their life - completely oblivious of the talents they have. Many years ago when my sons were competing in sports - when they took first place - after congratulating them on their accomplishment - very often they would reply that they were not the best - only the best on that day - in that specific competition - acknowledging that there were others - much better than them - who were elsewhere - not at that specific event - acknowledging their talent - recognizing others also shared that same gift.
For those who believe they have not received any special talents from God - need to take time - look deeply inside - to discover what the real gifts are that they have received. Once seeing those gifts - time to dig them up - take out of the depths - share with those around them. So many talents - gifts from God - go undiscovered - unshared - because of a lack of faith. All of us have to remember as children of God - as His disciples - as followers of Jesus - each - every one of us - have been blessed mightily. As true disciples - our duty to share all that we have received. With God - Jesus - the Holy Spirit - All things are possible - in Faith we share all we have received.
Deacon Dale
