The readings of today have the tone of an end time. This is not surprising since we are gradually approaching the end of the Church’s liturgical calendar. But more importantly, the readings also remind us of the reality of the end time or the eschatology. The Church teaches that three last things await everyone, namely, death, judgment, and reward or punishment. It is, however, difficult and almost humanly impossible to say when these things will happen. However, the certainty of their happening is like day and night.
Thus, Jesus Christ advised His listeners to stay awake, for they neither know the day nor the hour when the Lord will come (Matt. 24:42, 25:13). St. Paul reechoed the message to the Thessalonians “concerning dates and times, brothers, you do not need us to write to you. For you, yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night… Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us be alert and sober”. It is important to note that when the Lord comes, we will give an account of our stewardship since He made us custodians and stewards of His gifts and talents. He will sit in His judgment seat and will judge us on how we used the gifts given to us, and the talents bestowed on us, and the opportunities offered to us.
The message of Jesus in the Gospel is that we must give account of our stewardship, which he conveyed in this parable. A man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one, he gave five talents, to another two, and to a third, one – to each according to his ability. When they were called to give account of their stewardship, the one that had five made an additional five and was rewarded by his master, “I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy”. The one that had two talents made an additional two and was equally rewarded. But the servant who received one talent hid his talent and, as such, could not produce anything. He even had some nasty words for his master, just as dissidents usually do. He was punished by his master and the talent removed from him. “Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten… Throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth”. That is the consequence of not putting into use the gifts that one has received.
The challenge for us as Christians and Children of God is to use judiciously the gifts, talents, and opportunities God has given to us and yield fruits, fruits of goodness, fruits of kindness, fruits of love, generosity, service, and charity. We are challenged to yield fruits of integrity and peace. Therefore, to each and every one of us, gifts have been given. We must go about using them, not bury them or forget about them. One of the worst things is to do nothing with what God has given us as individuals.
Always remember that Jesus loves you!
[Readings: Prov. 31:10-13,19-20,30-31; 1 Thess. 5:1-6; Matt. 25:14-30]
