Saturday, August 27, 2011

Daily Bread: The Parable of the Talents





Antiphon

“Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.” ~ Psalm 98


Parable of the Talents

14 “It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.15 To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately16 the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five.17 Likewise, the one who received two made another two.18 But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.

19 After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. 20 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.’21 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.’ 22 [Then] the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ 23 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.’ 24 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; 25 so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’

26 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? 27Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? 28Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. 29 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. 30 And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’

Today's reading reminds me of a virtue I learned from my alma mater -- that my life is not something I keep to myself and that my duty is to share this to others for the greater glory of God.

God probably wants me to carry on with what I am doing right now. To not mind the challenges that come my way. To have faith in Him. To believe that all shall be well.

"Lord, when I've done all that I could yet some hearts still I cannot move, please give me hope...so I may still be your heart for others every single day of my life."

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