33rd Sunday of the Year - Homily Notes

33^RD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR, USE IT OR LOSE IT. 

By Rev. Rudolf Ofori

Readings: Prov 31:10-13, 19-20,30-31; 1Thes 5:1-6; Mt 25:14-30

 We all have so many fine qualities of mind, soul and body, given freely to us by God: they are like the talents handed by the master to his servants in the parable (Mt 25:15) before he left on his trip. God expects us to develop our talents and gifts. He expects us to put them to maximum use for God and for humanity, like the woman in Proverbs. She is praised, because with her gifts she brought her husband happiness day by day, made clothes for her children and reached out her hand to the poor (Prov 31:10-31). Are we all putting our gifts to their maximum use? Not really. Experts say that an average person uses only 10% of their mind’s potential. Would we ever tolerate our car operating at only 10% of its capacity? God expects us to put to maximum use even our small ordinary talents. Many ordinary people are slow to realize that their contribution can really affect the quality of life around them. Even a single personal gift is important. None of us should be like the one-talented man of the parable who could not see that his talent was of value to God and humanity. What matters is not how big or how many are our gifts, but how faithful and wholehearted are we in the use of them. 

We should not compare our gifts with others enviously, thus limiting ourselves to meager tasks. Of course, our gifts vary, but why? A Jew went to his rabbi and demanded to know why God distributes his gifts unequally. The rabbi whispered: “Not so loud. God might hear you and say, if you are anxious to know, come up here and find out,” That is wise advice. Each of us receives God’s gifts in different measures and he has a purpose. Each is born into a different family, in circumstances that are different. The influences on individuals vary and the opportunities they receive differ, even though God gives sufficient to all. Yet, how easily we envy those who live more glamorous lives than we do, those who acquire notoriety and very easily gain great wealth! The media, especially TV, glorifies the actor, singer or footballer, even though their personal lives may be very empty and poor. The majority lives unglamorous, undistinguished lives, but are they any less happy for it? 

Just think of the variety of gifts God has given to every human being. All have the gift of love, but a love which by its very nature demands sharing of life with others. We Christians have the gift of light (1 Thess 5:5), but and as children of the light we are called to enlightened conduct doing good and not evil, reflecting God’s own goodness in the world. We have the gift of God’s word which is so precious and powerful that we have no right to hide it. We must preach it and teach it. All people have the gift of a basic sense of justice which calls us to combat injustice in the world and to plant seeds of justice in the soil of human hearts. Many have artistic gifts. Artists, sculptors and musicians are called to use their gifts to beautify creation and to glorify God. All have the gift of time and are called to use it not only on themselves but in the service of their community. All have gifts of money, more or less. People who make maximum use of their money will not hold it back and hoard it for themselves. Rather, keeping their own personal needs simple, they will be generous in sharing it with others.

But we are all bondservants entrusted with talents that are not ours. The Lord who is the source of all gifts will return to ask for an account. The man who goes on journey abroad and returns after a long time is an image of Christ who has journey to the Father and is expected to return again (Mt 25:14). The test required to ensure a favorable judgment is whether we made full use of our gifts for the growth of his kingdom on earth. Are we secure with our accounts? Once the Wall Street Journal reported that, more business people fail because of poor record keeping than for any other reason. They think that things are going along fine, but when an unexpected bill comes they go bankrupt. Likewise, some people think that they are in good spiritual shape, when in fact they may have nothing in their heavenly bank account. Our present life is a fertile field ready to be filled. The seeds of truth, justice, love which we plant today will  surely germinate soon and flourish to the glory of the kingdom of God and when the Master returns unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, we will be lauded for breaking new ground. On the contrary, if we neglect our opportunities to plant and nurture the Christian seeds, we will lose not only the opportunities but also our talents.