Readings: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-11; psalm 98; Matthew 25:14-30
In the Gospel of today, we have the parable of the man who entrusted his property to his servants. To one, he gave five talents, to the second, he gave two and to the last, he gave one.
There are three points I want us to ponder on from the parable.
I. He gives to each according to his ability.
God doesn’t give us any blessing or cross that we cannot handle or that He has not given us the grace for, so there is no need for jealousy, fear or worry. God knows our abilities and so He does not stretch us beyond what we can handle or give us opportunities below our abilities. He is fair to everyone.
II. The Master expects fruitfulness and faithfulness from each of us and according to what we have received.
For all the graces and privileges we have received in life, “God wants us to be faithful and fruitful, productive and useful.” Each is expected to be fruitful according to what they have received. The person who received two talents was not expected to remit as much as the one who received five talents and so on.
Let us ask ourselves today, how faithful and fruitful have I been with the graces and privileges that I have received from God?
Do I use God’s gifts generously and selflessly for the good of God’s people or do I bury my talents or use them for selfish interests?
III. The master didn’t demand a collective account from the three of them at once.
He asked them to render an account individually; it was very personal. Together, the three servants did well – they received eight talents and remitted fifteen talents in all. However, individually, one didn’t do well.
Dear friends, God will demand an account of our lives from us individually, not as a family or a group or a Church.
God will expect me to render an account of my life, not the life of someone else. This is why in the First Reading, St. Paul urges us to attend to our own business, in other words, to mind our own business. God will not request Mr A to render the account of what is happening in the life of Mr B. Each will render an account of his/her life.
Sermon preached by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on September 2, 2023