Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Well done, good servant!” In today’s gospel reading (Luke 19:11-28), Jesus tells the parable of the pounds. In this parable, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Trade with these till I come.’” In this first part of the parable we see that the nobleman trusts his servants because he entrusts the servants with his wealth. The servants are to trade and barter with the riches until the nobleman returns with the kingdom. God has entrusted us with all his graces. Each of us has been given a bounty of grace from which to barter and trade. These blessing which God bestows upon us are our test. When the nobleman returned he called forth his servants to see what they did with the money. The first came forward, saying, “Lord, your pound has made ten pounds more.” And the nobleman replied, “Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.” The second servant came forward and said, “Lord, your pound has made five pounds.” And he said to him, “And you are to be over five cities.” Then another servant came forward saying, “Lord, here is your pound, which I kept laid away in a napkin; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.” He said to him, “I will condemn you out of your own mouth, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money into the bank, and at my coming I should have collected it with interest?” The kingdom of God is present among us. God has entrusted us many talents and gifts to help foster the kingdom of God here and now. If we use these gifts to help prosper the kingdom, God will repay us with a bounty beyond our comprehension. The size of our reward is based on the size of our heart. The more we do, the more we give to others, the more God entrusts upon us. But if we hoard our talents and gifts and keep them hidden in a napkin, we will be punished and lose everything we have been given. Our reward lies in the kingdom of God. We all hope to spend eternity in the kingdom with God. Eternity starts today. Do not wait until tomorrow because it may be too late. What gifts and talents has God given you? Are you using this gifts and talents to further the kingdom of God or do you squander the gifts and keep them hidden from others? At this time of Thanksgiving, we should focus thanking God for giving us gifts to share with others.

A Simple

Oh dear Father in Heaven,

You grace me with so many gifts and talents.

Give me the strength and wisdom to use these gifts wisely

So they will bring about the kingdom of God to others.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon

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