We receive different gifts from God, like wealth, skills, talents, family, social positions, education, profession, experiences, and many more. God wants us to nourish and take care of them. In the Gospel, the master rewarded the faithful servants, and told them that there was more. Notice that doubling the gifts they received was not final. Instead, the master invited them to a higher degree of happiness, which is sharing in his joy by giving them greater responsibilities.

In my experience, responsibilities are frequently associated with burden, tiresomeness, and exhaustion. Why then did the master associate greater responsibilities with greater joy? Worldly leaders taught me that leadership and superiority mean controlling, dictating, dominating, and abusing power. I think this results from power that is not rooted and motivated by love.

I am a seminarian who has experienced being a leader. I was there for the benefit of the common good, and served in order to have harmony and avoid confusion. I was there not to impose but to coordinate with the other members of the community. I do not look at myself as superior when I was elected leader, for I see leadership as a bigger effort to serve the members. There is a greater joy in greater responsibility if it is an act of love and a means to show love. Greater responsibility should be seen as a greater opportunity to express love.

There is another hidden truth here that reveals the justice of God, and that is the master who gives talents according to the servant’s ability. He knows what we can do, our limitations, and our potential. Are we faithful enough to take the risk of investing what we received from Him? Do you want to be a sharer in the Master’s joy?

By: Sem. Jose A. Cordova Jr.

Today’s Gospel

Matthew 25:14-30

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“A man going on a journey
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one–
to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.
Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,
and made another five.
Likewise, the one who received two made another two.
But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground
and buried his master’s money.
After a long time
the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.
The one who had received five talents
came forward bringing the additional five.
He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents.
See, I have made five more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said,
‘Master, you gave me two talents.
See, I have made two more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said,
‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person,
harvesting where you did not plant
and gathering where you did not scatter;
so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.
Here it is back.’
His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!
So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant
and gather where I did not scatter?
Should you not then have put my money in the bank
so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?
Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.
For to everyone who has,
more will be given and he will grow rich;
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'”