November 12, 2011
33rd Sunday Ordinary Time
We old folk will remember Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour and The Gong Show. The younger generation watches America Got Talent. "Talent" is a word describing personal ability especially on stage but actually talent means "a weight" -- a weight used on a balance measuring precious metal like silver. Jesus tells the parable of the talent. Talents are given/entrusted to three servants. Two servants are industrious and double the treasure. One servant, in fear, buries the talent and then returns it with no gain. When Jesus tells the parable, he has the pharisees and scribes in mind, who, like the servant who squander the investment, have put a fence around the Torah and refuse to listen to Jesus. We can readily apply the parable to ourselves. Are we using the talent we have, little or great, for God and for the good of others. In fear or laziness are we hoarding or ignoring God given abilities? In the parable we learn two rules: ability practiced and exercised progressively increases; and ability neglected eventually is lost. A beautiful example of a person using her God given ability and virtue is found in our first reading in the Book of Proverbs. The author praises a woman who cares for her husband and children, manages the home, uses her hands for crafts, goes and trades at the market and helps people in need. Wow! She sounds contemporary.
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32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
