OF TALENT AND TALENT
November 15, 2020: A Reflection for the 33rd Sunday in Ord. Time, Year A
Matthew 25:14-30
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. (Mt 25:22-24)
We’ve all heard this quote from St. Irenaeus: “The glory of God is a living human being; and the life of the human consists in beholding God. The glory of the human being is God…”
Jesus, is this life, this glory, what today’s Gospel on the talents is all about? Irenaeus continues, “For if the manifestation of God which is made by means of the creation affords life to all living in the earth, much more does that revelation of the Father which comes through the Word, give life to those who see God.” Your manifestation, Jesus, in all creation affords life to all living on the earth. It is the talent each and every person is given that they may “see God.” To see you and to respond in faith is to exercise the talent of being a truly LIVING human being. “For the glory of the human being is God…”
You came to give us life and life to the full. And this life is in You, the Son. Help us, Jesus, to receive this life as it comes in every person, every particle of creation. Help us to invest this talent of faith that stretches us to see your Face – in the likely and unlikely places of our day, in the circumstances that call out to us to leave our self-centered ways aside and to exercise our talent of love. Let us be fully alive in our contemplative gaze to “See God” through the singleness of heart and purpose. Unite us within, so that with all our heart we seek you, respond to your presence each moment. Help us to take up our talent and invest it in you, through humble love, generous service, and the “Yes” to your Presence that will have us hear you say to us: “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Come, share your master’s joy.” The joy of God is a living human being. And the joy of the human being is God. We thank you for this incredible talent. May we share your joy even now in the light of your Face with which our world shimmers.