In today's parable, Jesus is represented by the master, and all of us are represented by the servants. However, it's easy for us to forget that we're simply servants who depend on God.
In a world where technology has given us much power, it's natural for some to think of themselves as the center of the universe. But this parable reminds us that we are not God nor the center of the world. Our purpose is to know, love, and serve God. Only by doing so can we find true fulfillment.
In today's parable, Jesus is represented by the master, and all of us are represented by the servants. However, it's easy for us to forget that we're simply servants who depend on God.
In a world where technology has given us much power, it's natural for some to think of themselves as the center of the universe. But this parable reminds us that we are not God nor the center of the world. Our purpose is to know, love, and serve God. Only by doing so can we find true fulfillment.
God has blessed us with talents, which refer to all the abilities and blessings we receive from Him. We can either use them as Christ wants us to or squander them. The secret to true fulfillment is to use our God-given talents well.
St. Teresa of Calcutta is an excellent example of someone who learned this lesson. One of her many stories illustrates beautifully what it means to use our God-given talents well.
During her stay with a community of sisters working with indigenous Australians, she visited an older man who lived alone and was ignored by everyone. His home was filthy, but he refused when Teresa offered to clean it. She insisted, and he finally agreed.
While cleaning, she found a beautiful lamp covered with dust. The man told her he had never lit it because no one visited him. Teresa promised the sisters would visit him every night if he agreed to light the lamp. The man agreed, and from that day on, the sisters visited him every evening. Two years later, he sent a message to Teresa saying that the light she lit in his life still shone.[1]
Our life mission is to invest our talents so that we can light as many lamps as possible in as many different ways as possible. We should first identify our gifts and thank God for all our blessings. Then, we should reflect on the one or two strong characteristics, traits, or talents God has given us. What are the things that excite us, and what have we always dreamed of doing?
The second step is to get right with God and stay that way by praying daily, going to confession regularly, and studying Scripture and Church teachings. This is how we get to know our Lord and Savior and stay connected to the vine. If we fail to do this, our talents will bear no fruit.
Finally, we must put our gifts at the service of others. We should be creative and courageous, just like Christ, who left us his new commandment: to love one another as he has loved us. To fulfill our purpose in life, we must give our lives by using our talents to serve those around us.
[1] Voices of the Saints" by Bert Ghezzi
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