First Reading: 1Thes 4:9-11; Psalm: 98. R. v. 9; Gospel: Mt 25:14-30

INVESTING ON OUR TALENTS

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

One truth about life is that there may be some hidden talents in us we may not know until we try out something new. There is often that drive in us to learn new skills like playing the piano or guitar. Or the drive to acquire other skills that can enrich our world. But often times we end up not developing this potential talents in us because of the demands of training or because we are afraid to fail. The reality of this drive to try out something new indicates our ability to develop some latent talents in us if only we endured the pain of time and practice. But the crisis we often face is negligence and discouragement.

In the parable of today’s gospel, each of the servants was given different talents by their master according to their ability. The first two servants did business with their talents and made more which they submitted to their master on his return. The third servant who knew his master as a hard man went and hid his talent to keep it safe because he was afraid of his master’s rebuke should he do business with it and lose everything or fail to make any profit. His crime was not that he hid the talent but that he never even adventured with it even if he will end up making no profit. It would have been better if he had tried something and failed than trying nothing at all.

Each of us has some talents given to us by God to better our world. These talents are not meant to be dormant. God wants us to develop and use them in service to humanity. So what are those potential talents in us that we have buried instead of developing them? Perhaps it’s time we pay attention to them. We can see from this parable that those who will be punished are those who will never try; those who give excuses that they can do nothing meaningful with their small talents. Those who feel there is no point trying. Our strengths and abilities are not too small to change our world. This is why we must reject the life of indifference and develop our potentials. Our talents are not insignificant; we only need to put them to work

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord God, help us to make the very best use of the opportunities you present to us daily. May we not waste our time and talents. Amen.