Intention of the Day

That we detach ourselves from earthly goods.
The Brothers’ Community and Marists, St Michael’s Primary School, Daceyville, NSW.

Today's Gospel

You have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness.

Matthew 25: 21.

Matthew 25: 14 - 30.

¹⁴ 'It is like a man about to go abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them.

¹⁵ To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one, each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out on his journey.

¹⁶ The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more.

¹⁷ The man who had received two made two more in the same way.

¹⁸ But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

¹⁹ Now a long time afterwards, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them.

²⁰ The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. "Sir," he said, "you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made."

²¹ His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness."

²² Next the man with the two talents came forward. "Sir," he said, "you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made."

²³ His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness."

²⁴ Last came forward the man who had the single talent. "Sir," said he, "I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown and gathering where you had not scattered;

²⁵ so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back."

²⁶ But his master answered him, "You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered?

²⁷ Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have got my money back with interest.

²⁸ So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the ten talents.

²⁹ For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but anyone who has not, will be deprived even of what he has.

³⁰ As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."

Breaking Open The Word

As servants of God we are expected to return, with interest, the talents that have been entrusted to us.

Taken from: Give Us This Day

Surprising Rewards.

It matters not what talents one has. What matters is how one uses them. God never demands more from us than our abilities allow. What God demands is that one uses to the fullest what one possesses. As servants of God we are expected to return, with interest, the talents that have been entrusted to us.

The assumption is that we first accept what is given as a precious gift from God. We consecrate the talents to the glory of God and set diligently about using them. It is not our purpose to compare our gifts with others enviously and to limit ourselves to meager tasks. Our gift may be the ability to plant seeds of justice which can yield immeasurable harvest. One simple word spoken, one act of kindness, a life of love! Who can judge your particular talent in a world open to investments for peace? The contemporary environment is so constituted by the love of God that our one seed planted in fertile soil will germinate and flourish to the glory of the kingdom of God. God’s “Well done” is our compensation for the tireless labor of using our gifts.

Jesus warns the hearer of the dangers in being the useless servant. The failure of the servant lay in his fear. The one who, even with one talent, did not risk using it for the common good is condemned for blaming God and others for this failure. It is better to venture forth with what one has and fail than to try nothing and live an empty life. The one-talented man in the story could not see that his talent was of value to God and humanity.

The good and faithful servants received surprising rewards. Rather than receiving license to sit back and relax, they were given greater tasks to do. Such is the reward of the new covenant in Jesus Christ. If we trust in the protective love of God and remain open to possibilities, our own capabilities will yield increase. Any gift of grace provides an opportunity for divine investment.

Melva Wilson Costen, adapted from Homilies for the Christian People. Taken from Give Us This Day.

Melva Wilson Costen, a native of South Carolina, was the first African American woman elected as Chairman of the Advisory Council of Discipleship and Worship of the United Presbyterian Church, USA.

That we detach ourselves from earthly goods.
The Brothers’ Community and Marists, St Michael’s Primary School, Daceyville, NSW.

Marist Source

We open our homes to the poor and we share with them our presence, time and resources.

# WFR 24.

That we detach ourselves from earthly goods.
The Brothers’ Community and Marists, St Michael’s Primary School, Daceyville, NSW.

To Ponder

'I was afraid'- our continuous stumbling block, but notice where it begins: I; and I don't BE-long to I, I BE-long to the One.

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Closing Prayer

All Loving God

Cultivate in us a spirituality that flows out of Marian simplicity, humility and modesty.

Release in us wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement for your work in which we share.

Help us set our gaze on those people and places most in need of Christlife,

Impel us to respond together,

And lead us to be in communion with one another, and with you.

Like Mary, we listen for your invitation,

Like Mary, we set out joyfully and in haste to the hill country of the lives of young people,

Like Mary, we build communities in ways that are Christ-centred.

All Loving God, come and live in our hearts.

Amen