The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to accept the prompting of the Holy Spirit to express our gratitude for our talent and ability by being open to service to others.
The reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians has Paul urging the people to boast in the Lord.
* [1:29–31] “Boasting (about oneself)” is a Pauline expression for the radical sin, the claim to autonomy on the part of a creature, the illusion that we live and are saved by our own resources. “Boasting in the Lord” (1 Cor 1:31), on the other hand, is the acknowledgment that we live only from God and for God. (1 Corinthians, n.d.)
Psalm 33 praises the Greatness and Goodness of God.
* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 33, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus presents the Parable of the Talents.
* [25:20–23] Although the first two servants have received and doubled large sums, their faithful trading is regarded by the master as fidelity in small matters only, compared with the great responsibilities now to be given to them. The latter are unspecified. Share your master’s joy: probably the joy of the banquet of the kingdom; cf. Mt 8:11.
* [25:26–28] Wicked, lazy servant: this man’s inactivity is not negligible but seriously culpable. As punishment, he loses the gift he had received, that is now given to the first servant, whose possessions are already great.
* [25:29] See note on Mt 13:12 where there is a similar application of this maxim.
* [25:30] See note on Mt 8:11–12. (Matthew, CHAPTER 25, n.d.)
Mike Kavan comments that it is humility before God that allows us to open up to Him and to follow his message and the teaching of Jesus Christ. Jesus tells this story to prepare his disciples as they wait for his return. Jesus understood that there will be difficult days ahead for his disciples - they will be tested and they will be scared. The parable is applicable to us as well. How will we behave as we wait for the Lord’s return?
It’s not about accumulating wealth, but, instead, about using our talents to serve others - especially those who are marginalized in society. So, the question is – how can and will we use our talents as we wait? I am hoping I am strong enough to use them in a manner that allows our Master to respond by asking us to share in His joy. (Kavan, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Eternal Joys,” by Gregory the Great (540-604 AD).
"All the good deeds of our present life, however many they may appear to be, are few in comparison with our eternal recompense. The faithful servant is put in charge of many things after overcoming all the troubles brought him by perishable things. He glories in the eternal joys of his heavenly dwelling. He is brought completely into the joy of his master when he is taken into his eternal home and joined to the company of angels. His inner joy at his gift is such that there is no longer any external perishable thing that can cause him sorrow." (excerpt from FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 9.2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 asks: We know that it’s a good thing to offer God our strengths and talents. But what about offering him our weaknesses?
You might be at a point in your life where you are not in control of your own time. Your health or living situation puts a constraint on how you spend your time, and that might feel like a weakness. But you can surrender your time constraints to the Lord and put love and energy into the things you can do. That attitude of doing even small or mundane things with great love can then rub off on the people around you.
Every day you are surrounded by opportunities to offer yourself—weaknesses and all—to the Lord. Give him all that you are and all that you have, and trust in his power working through you even in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). He loves you and has a perfect plan for how you can build his kingdom.
“Lord, I offer all of myself to you.” (Meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler connects the message of Paul to the Corinthians today to a response to members of the community who may have presented themselves as particularly gifted by the Holy Spirit. Everything we have is from Christ. Friar Jude reminds us that accounting for our talent is a recurring theme in the Gospel of Matthew.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Buddhist teacher Joan Halifax who describes a method of collaborative discernment with, and on behalf of, others using GRACE as an active contemplative practice. . . . GRACE is a mnemonic that stands for: Gather attention. Recall our intention. Attune to self and then the other. Consider what will serve. Engage and end. . . .
Gather Attention: The G in GRACE is a reminder for us to pause and give ourselves time to get grounded. On the inhale, we gather our attention. On the exhale, we drop our attention into the body, sensing into a place of stability in the body. . . .
Recall Intention: The R of GRACE is recalling intention. We recall our commitment to act with integrity and respect the integrity of those whom we encounter. We remember that our intention is to serve others and to open our heart to the world. . . .
Attune to Self and Other: The A of GRACE refers to the process of attunement. . . . In the self-attunement process, we bring attention to our physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts—all of which can shape our attitudes and behavior toward others. . . . From this base of self-attunement, we attune to others, sensing without judgment into their experience . . . [and] engage our capacity for empathy. . . .
Consider What Will Serve is the C of GRACE. . . . . We ask ourselves, What is the wise and compassionate path here? What is an appropriate response? We are present for the other as we sense into what might serve them, and we let insights arise, noticing what the other might be offering in this moment. . . .
Engage and End: The first phase of the E in GRACE is to ethically engage and act, if appropriate. Compassionate Action emerges from the field we have created of openness, connection, and discernment. (Rohr, 2022)
We have faith that the Spirit is leading us to apply our talents as good and faithful servants of the Lord.
References
Kavan, M. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved August 27, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/082722.html
Matthew, CHAPTER 25. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 27, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/25?14
Meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 27, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/08/27/476003/
1 Corinthians. (n.d.). 1 CORINTHIANS 1. Retrieved August 27, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/1?26
Psalms, PSALM 33. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 27, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?12
Rohr, R. (2022, August 27). Daily Meditation: Discerning What is Ours to Do: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 27, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/discerning-what-is-ours-to-do-weekly-summary-2022-08-27/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Master Will Settle His Account with Them. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 27, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=aug27
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