Don’t miss your chance

The story is told about a rich lawyer who was headed home and saw two apparently poor and hungry men eating grass by the roadside. He ordered his driver to stop and invited them to get into his limousine. When they were on their way, one of the poor fellows said: “Sir, you are too kind. Thank you for inviting us to come with you to your house.” Whereupon the lawyer said: “No problem. The grass at my house is almost a foot tall.”

In today’s Gospel (Mt. 25, 14-30), Jesus speaks about the talents that have been given unto each one of us. The rich lawyer in our story surely had talent, but he used it for his selfish agenda. Let us ask ourselves today if we are making good use of our talents for service, and for the glory of God.

How should we handle our talents? First of all, let us know and accept them. Let us not keep our talents hidden. Each one of us has a share of talents. Let us continue to discover them, and accept them.

Second, let us develop our talents. Practice makes perfect. There is no substitute for hard work. May we have little or no regrets that we did not develop our talents to the fullest.

Third, let us share our talents. Any talent or charism given to us should be used for the greater glory of God. Our talents are not for our personal use and gratification. They should be shared with others. Indeed, to whom much is given, much is also required.

Fourth, let us consecrate our talents to the Giver of our talents. Let us put our talents at the service of God’s kingdom. Out of gratitude to Him who has given us so much, let us not be selfish, greedy, or selective in using and sharing our talents.

We can specialize in good or in bad talents. It is our choice. Let us choose good talents, and let us avoid bad talents. Let us also acknowledge, encourage, and affirm the good talents of other people. Let us not be threatened by or be envious of each other’s talents.

On a personal note, mathematics was never my talent. It was and still is my waterloo. But this did not stop or discourage me. I do admire people who are good in mathematics, but I have accepted also that I have a different talent. We can’t have it all, but we can do and give our very best, no matter how small.

My hat’s off to people who have a talent in business and financial matters. However, when they come before God at the end of their lives, I hope that “I made a lot of money when I was alive” is not the only thing they will report to the Lord. Worse will be those who had the “talent” of making money by lying, stealing, or cheating.

We are responsible, and we are accountable. Why? That’s because we are not God, nor are we greater gods than the rest of humanity. Let us live in such a way that when we come face to face with the Giver of our lives and talents, we will not hear Him say to us: “You blew it. You wasted it. You missed your chance.”

Inviting you to the 30th Eucharistic Congress, with the theme “The Holy Eucharist and the Joy of Love,” on Nov. 25 at the Pink Sisters Convent, M. Hemady Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Topics and speakers are: “The Eucharist Satisfies the Hunger of the Human Family” (Fr. Raymund Festin, SVD, superior of SVD Central Province); “The Eucharist and Amoris Laetitia” (Msgr. Pedro Gerardo Santos, EdD, parish priest, Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Makati); “The Eucharist: Strength and Inspiration of Love in Marriage” (His Eminence, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Papal Nuncio and permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations). Registration is free.

Bantay Matanda invites you to an advent recollection on Nov. 25 with Fr. Jun Perez, SVD, at Tuklong ni San Jose, Christ the King Seminary, E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For inquiries, please call 3732262.

A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help us not to waste our talents, and miss our chance to serve and to give. Amen.