Monday of the
Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
(Proverbs 3:27-34; Luke 8:16-18)
In a movie some years ago an Italian-American father shares
his wisdom with his son. He says that
nothing is worse than a person wasting God-given talent. The father cites Joe DiMaggio as an example. The famous athlete made full use of his abilities
to become one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the sport. In fact his accomplishment of hitting safely
in fifty-six consecutive games is still a major league record. Jesus has some similar advice for his
disciples in today’s gospel.
The lesson takes place after Jesus explains to his
disciples alone the parable of the seed falling on different terrains. Now he implies that they are all fertile soil
capable of producing much fruit. But, he
says, they must put their individual talents to good use. They cannot squirrel them away exclusively for
their own welfare, much less ignore them completely. No, they have to employ them to benefit the
Kingdom of God or, Jesus says, they will be taken away.
God is not treating us harshly by expecting us to use our
talents for the good of others. Rather
He is urging us to grow in virtue by caring for the needy. Further He is moving us closer to Himself as
the reward of eternal life.
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