Today's Thoughts...

Today’s Thoughts: “You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.” (Thomas Merton)
 
Perhaps this is the spirit of today Gospel (Matt. 25:14-30) that we take the chance and invest our life. There are always risks involved but in the end, wouldn't it be great to hear God say to us, "Well done good and faithful servant, come share my joy!"
 
The word talent or talents that we find in our Gospel today at one time had the meaning in English of a “large sum of money,” which is its meaning in Greek. However, through the years influence by this parable the meaning came to be a “natural capacity for success in some mental or physical activity.” Thus, we think of a talent as a special gift that we have for sports, art, music and in other things.
 
Our scripture today, however, is not talking about special gifts, but talent as the challenge to use our God given ability to be compassionate, understanding, wise, forgiving, merciful, loving. We are challenged to be the person created in the image and likeness of God by using our God given talents to make this world a better place not just for ourselves but for all. We are challenged today to take a risk with our lives not keep them safe.
 
I have always said when we heard or read one of Jesus’ parables and at the end of the parable someone is outside, “You don’t want to be that person!” Today, the third servant in the end because he fails to take a rise, because he safely buries his talent ends up “outside where there is wailing and grinding of teeth.”
 
We are asked today to trust in the gifts, talents, presence of God in our lives and take the risk so that when we meet God face to face we will hear “Well done good and faithful servant…Come share my joy!”
 
Have a blessed Sunday everyone and don’t forget to give God a little time today!