REFLECTIONS TODAY

The parable of the Talents clearly shows that Jesus is against laziness. Like the previous parable (Ten Virgins), this parable is addressed to Jesus’ disciples to teach what the Kingdom of heaven (of God) is all about. 

In the Kingdom of God, there is no place for unproductivity. All the disciples are entrusted with talents, huge amount of resources, which they should make use of and multiply to produce impressive results. 

At the end of time, Jesus will come again and ask what happened to the talents. The faithful servants who have done what is expected of them will be entrusted with more talents. The end time has not yet come for them. But Jesus will severely punish the wicked and lazy servants. There will be no more mercy at the end of time, which is just at the corner. 

We, Christians, must make most of our time now to show kindness and love to our fellow humans, and to give our best to the Lord.

FIRST READING • 1 Thes 4:9-11 
Brothers and sisters: On the subject of fraternal charity you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Nevertheless we urge you, brothers and sisters, to progress even more, and to aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.

Responsorial psalm • Ps 98 
“The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.”

Gospel • Mt 25:14-30 
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money… The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ … Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ ”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.