Use and Grow

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/090217.cfm) reminds me that God wants me to use my talents and that I should allow Him to grow them. 

I have a tendency to not immediately use my new things, especially if I really like it. For me, I don’t want to risk it being damaged that’s why it takes time - months, even years, before I use something I like. And when I use it, I don't use it often to avoid getting it worn out easily. Yes, I'm weird. My wife tells me that it defeats the purpose of these things, and she feels I do not like what she gives me that's why it takes long before I use it or I don't use it often. This may be similar to what God feels when we don't use our talents enough. 

In the gospel, we see that God wants us to use whatever he has given us.

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?

God wants us to use and grow whatever he gave us. 

God gave us different gifts – Time, talent and treasure, that we should not compare with others and instead, we should use to grow. Our gifts will not grow and be preserved if we do not use it. We should be generous in using and sharing them. Else, God may take it away from us and give it to those who are using what they have.

God is a generous God, and he wants his children to experience his love, blessings and care. 

However, we should not just be contented in experiencing it. We should also be willing to share it with others. We should also be willing to be used by God to touch other people’s lives, and one way we can do that is to use whatever he has given us for the benefit of others.

May we be ready and willing to share our time, talent and treasure as we build God’s kingdom here on earth.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another chance to experience your love. Thank you for all the blessings you have given me. Lord, sorry for the times I don't use what you have given me. Sorry for not giving and serving all out. I pray that I may always be generous and share whatever you have given me. May I not keep these things to myself, but be ready and willing to share all your goodness to others, so they too may experience you more. As I do this, I know you will continue to bless me, not because I am doing a good job, but because you want me to share more blessings to others. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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September 2, 2017
Saturday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 430

Reading 11 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 PsalmPS 98:1, 7-8, 9

R. (9) The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.

AlleluiaJN 13:34

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelMT 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.
After a long time 
the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.
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 two talents also came forward and said,
'Master, you gave me two talents.
See, I have made two 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.'"