33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

November 15, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: Proverb 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31

Psalm 128 “Blessed are those who fear the Lord.”

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-6

Gospel reading according to Matthew 25: 14-30

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Homily:

God the Father gives each one of us talents or gifts we can use in living in this world.  He gives his talents or gifts, like for example, intelligence, capacity to enter into transactions wisely, trust in small and great things, stewardship, confidence to do and to act according to the will of God, and many other talents or gifts God has entrusted to us.  But how do we use these talents or gifts God has given or shared to us? Do we use them wisely, diligently and with confidence or are we afraid to commit mistakes so we do not use it but instead bury it to the ground or keep them in our tampipi, (a luggage made of bamboo)?

Jesus used another parable to teach his disciples about the goodness and trust and confidence of God the Father to them and to us. This time, it is about a man going on a journey who entrusted his property to his servants; like our good God who entrusted to us his created world to be his stewards.  But the question is: Are we trustworthy stewards of God′s created world?  “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.” (Matthew 25: 14-15).  This man knows the capacity of his servants, but still he entrusted to his servants parts of his property; so the most trusted servant he gave big amount (of five talents), let us say, five million pesos; another trusted servant got two talents, let us say, two million pesos; while the least trusted servant was given only one talent, let us say, one million pesos.  No one of the servants complained nor compared to what they received.  And the man (the master of the house) left, most probably he was going to visit his other businesses, or his field to collect the fruit of his vineyard from his tenants, or to meet his business partners, etc., or any other reasons for his journey.

The most trusted and capable servant who received five talents or five million pesos invested the whole amount to a trade.  The same with the second trusted and capable servant who received two talents or two million pesos.  Both servants gained equal amounts of five million and two million pesos.  “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” (Matthew 25: 16-18).  Nevertheless, the third servant who was less trusted and not capable to do business did not invest the one talent or one million pesos to a trade but instead he hid it by burying it on the ground until such time his master returned.

So the master came back after a long absence.  Maybe he brought pasalubong (bring home) to his servants.   “After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them” (Matthew 25: 19).  Before he gave his pasalubong, each servant was called and asked to give a report about the talents or money he entrusted to them.  Maybe he was excited to hear from his servants how they invested or traded his money, what happened to his money, did it gain income or gain losses?

So, one by one, the servants gave their reports.  “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, good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.  Come, share your master’s joy. . . .”  (Matthew 25: 20-21). The first servant, the most and capable, who received five talents or five million pesos reported that he gained the equivalent amount of five million pesos.  He handed over to his master ten talents or ten million pesos.  The master was very happy and well-pleased for the small matter done by his first faithful servant, so he invited this servant to join in his joy with his pasalubong.  So also with the second faithful servant who gained the additional two talents or two million pesos, after reporting he handed over to his master four talents or four million pesos.  Because of this success of his servant, he also invited this second faithful servant to join in the joy of his master with his pasalubong.

The third servant, who was less trusted and unable to enter in doing business, came to his master and reported what he had done to his money.  He returned the one talent or one million pesos to his master.  “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 got it back with interest on my return?” (Matthew 25: 24-27).  As if he was blaming and pointing fingers to his master, his strictness, very demanding, as if supposing stealing the harvest and gathering yield which was not his and which caused him fear and numb of his body and mind.  He cannot think and move what to do with the talent because of the fear with his master’s attitude and personality.  So instead of putting into investment or in the bank to earn an interest he buried it to the ground.  The master knew him, his inability, his weakness and lack of creativity, but in spite of these he entrusted him with part of his property.  But because of what he said to and accused his master; his master became uncompromising to the attitude of this wicked and lazy servant, as the master called him name names.  Even his master gave him an example he should have done like depositing his money in the bank and sooner or later collecting interest.  Do we have fear of our Lord and God so that we cannot move in faith, act in charity, and do good to our neighbors?  Do we accuse God for our wickedness and laziness? of our inability to perform what is expected from us?

Here is the lesson Jesus gave to his disciples and even to us his followers.  “‵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′” (Matthew 25: 28-30).  Whatever gifts or talents entrusted to us, there are corresponding responsibilities expected from us.  Either small or great the gift or talent is given to us, we must act and move faithfully and diligently.  The more we have received, the greater responsibilities we will be delivering by us, for He knew our capability to do the tasks commended to us.  Nevertheless, if we do not do what is expected from us because of fear, wickedness, laziness, not creative to find ways and means however it is easy or hard to do it, then it is expected that whatever talent entrusted to us, even what we call ours, will be taken away from us.  Nothing is left from us.  Besides, a heavy punishment is stored to us because of lack of confidence and faith in God, literally speaking . . . “and throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”  So use our talents wisely and prudently, then God would say, “Come, share your master’s joy.”