Reflections on Scripture | Saturday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Matthew 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.'"

Reflection

Jesus makes clear that the Kingdom of Heaven that He is talking to his disciples about, is about God giving something to human beings, and they’re being the instruments of that being shared with others.

And what is interesting is that when He gives a great deal to one, let's say a talent, even though talent means a coin. But if He gives great ability to one, with much less given to the next, and even less to the next. Then it's clear that there's something about having many gifts that encourage someone to share them. But if He then gives someone just a little gift, it is equally essential to Him that they give it and not bury it.

Whatever God has called us to do, to become. It is absolutely important. And the big obstacle is fear. Fear it's not important. It's not enough.

Closing Prayer

Father, how can we imagine that the little that we do, the thoughts that we have, have such enormous power? Help us to realize the gift that you have given us in our humanity. And help us to understand that when you fill it with a gift, we need to share it. We need to use it because that's why we're here. That's the reason God has created us on this planet, so that we can continue together to use the gifts we have to build up the Kingdom of God. A world of peace and reconciliation and compassion. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross