Reflections on The Parable of the Talents

As mentioned in my previous post, we heard mass in Bulacan last Sunday (November 13). The Gospel was taken from Matthew 25:14-30 (The Parable of the Talents). Allow me to share a beautiful reflection of the Gospel which the priest presented during his homily. (Italics mine.)

1. God blessed ALL of us with different talents. These may be in the form of time, our life itself, beauty, and treasures. ALL means everyone, without exception. Thus, nobody could say that he/she is not talented. Each of us has something to offer, no matter how big or small that may be.

2. We should not envy others. Instead of whining about what others have, focus on your talents. Use them. No matter how small that talent is, we must appreciate, use, and enrich it.

3. We should not be afraid to use our talents for the glory of God and for the good of others. Sometimes, fear paralyzes. And it may lead us to sin. If we become paralyzed, we might not be able to do what we ought to do (especially good works), thus, the sin of omission.

We are challenged to examine ourselves. How do we give? How do we share our talents? How do we live our lives?

In the end, we must be reminded of this: Our life is a gift from the Lord. What we do with our life is our gift to Him.

Let us not waste our talents. Let us not waste our lives. Because they came from the Lord and they should be offered back to Him, for His glory. :) Let us aim that at the end of our lives, we will hear God say, "Well done, My good and faithful servant. Come, share Your master's joy."

*****

This homily was originally presented in Tagalog. And because I am a Filipino, (and in honor of Bulacan), I will also share in Tagalog. :)

Pagninilay sa Talinghaga ng mga Talento

1. Lahat tayo ay binigyan ng Panginoon ng iba't ibang talento. Ang mga ito ay maaaring sa anyo ng oras, ng ating buhay mismo, ng kagandahan, at ng kayamanan.

2. Hindi tayo dapat managhili sa talento ng iba. Bagkus, ating gamitin ang ating mga talento. Gaano man kaliit ang mga talentong ipinagkaloob sa atin, nararapat natin itong pahalagahan, gamitin, at linangin.

3. Hindi tayo dapat na matakot na gamitin ang ating mga talento para sa Diyos at para sa kapwa. Minsan, ang takot ay nakakaparalisa.

(At this point, the priest shared a story, again, in Tagalog. I didn't translate it in English because it is more effective when delivered in Tagalog. :D)

Minsan, nag-usap-usap ang tatlong hayop na alaga ng isang magbubukid. "Ako ay may malaking pakinabang sa ating pinaglilingkuran. Nagbibigay ako ng masasarap na itlog buwan-buwan," buong pagmamayabang na wika ng manok. "Mas malaki ang aking pakinabang pagkat ako'y nagbibigay ng masustansyang gatas araw-araw," sagot naman ng kalabaw. Hindi nagpatalo ang baboy at kanyang sinambit, "Ako ang may pinakamalaking pakinabang. Hindi man ako nagbibigay ng itlog buwan-buwan, o ng gatas araw-araw, ngunit mahalaga naman ang aking inihahandog. Minsan lamang ako magbigay subalit sa isang pagkakataong iyon, iniaalay ko ang aking buong pagkababoy."

Suriin natin ang ating mga sarili. Paano ba tayo magbigay? Paano tayo magsusulit sa Panginoon? Naihandog ba natin ang ating buhay at buong pagkatao sa Kanyang kadakilaan?

"Ang buhay ko ay handog sa akin ng Panginoon. Kung paano ko gagamitin ang buhay ko, iyon naman ang handog ko sa Kanya."

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