33RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A – HOMILY
THEME: Parable of the Talents
By: Fr. Anthony Kadavil
This penultimate Sunday of the liturgical year reminds us, not only of the end of the liturgical year, but also of the end of all things and of the preparations we need to make to reach Heaven. The main theme of the three readings is an invitation to live in such a way that we make the best use of the talents God has given us, so that at the hour of our death Our Lord will say: “Well done, my good and faithful servant!… Come and share the joy of your master” Matthew 25: 21).
The first reading suggests that we should be as diligent and industrious as a loyal and faithful wife, in the use of our God-given gifts and talents with “the fear of the Lord.” Unlike the one-talent man, she takes her gifts and “brings forth good, not evil”; she “reaches her hands to the poor and extends her arms to the needy,” and she is a portrait of responsible readiness. In today’s
Responsorial Psalm, Ps 128, the Psalmist echoes the concept of the blessedness of the faithful servant of the Lord. The Psalm affirms that the fear of the Lord is the key to human happiness and joy.
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In the second reading, Paul advises us as “children of the Light” to “stay alert and sober,” living in such a way that we will be ready when Jesus does come, and will encourage and build each other up as we wait for the “Day of the Lord.”
Today’s Gospel asks us if we are using our talents and gifts primarily to serve God and doing everything, we can to carry out God’s will. The parable of the talents challenges us to do something positive, constructive and life-affirming with our talents here and now.
Life messages: 1) We need to trust God enough to make use of the gifts and abilities we have been given. We may be especially talented in teaching children or cooking meals or repairing homes or programming computers. So, we should ask ourselves how we are using our particular gifts in the service of our Christian community and the wider society.
2) We need to make use of our talents in our parish. In addition to our homes and families, the best place to do this is in our parish. This means that we should be always willing to share our abilities in creative worship in the Church and in various ministries of our parish, such as Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, Lector, Usher, Sunday school teacher, singer in the choir, volunteer and member of one or more parish organizations and community outreach programs.
3) We need to “trade” with our talent of Christian Faith: All of us in the Church today have received at least one talent namely, the gift of Faith. Our responsibility is not just to preserve and “keep” the Faith, but to work with it. We need to promote and add value to Faith by living it out. The way to preserve the Faith, or any other talent that God has given us, is to put it to work and help it bear fruit.
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