You have a choice

The story is told about a tourist in the Holy Land who wanted to have his picture taken on top of a camel. “It’s free,” said the camel owner, and up the tourist went in glee. But when the tourist wanted to go down, the camel owner said, “That would be $2.” “But you said it’s free!” the tourist remonstrated. “Yes, riding on the camel is free, but getting down from the camel, that’s $2 you have to pay,” said the camel owner. Now, that’s what I’d call talent of the first degree!

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In today’s Gospel (Matthew 25:14-15, 19-21),Jesus talks about the parable of the talents, with the admonition that we be faithful and responsible in handling the talents that God has given us, and that we all will give an accounting of our talents someday. Let us make sure that we are not burying nor abusing the talents given to us by God.

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Let us turn water into wine! Water signifies that which is gratuitously given to us by God. Wine, however; is that which has been processed by us, the fruit of our labor; hard work and sacrifice. Our God-given talents are the water of our lives. The product of our talents is the wine of our lives, which we offer back to God. As we go through life, let us be busy turning our water into wine. And, let us make sure we are giving back to this world and to God, good wine.

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The difference between water and wine is the difference between a successful life and a meaningful life. And so it is that some people live successful live—that is, they become rich, powerful or even famous by sheer talent and hard work. However, their lives, though comfortable, are empty because they never reach out and help other people, and they have left the source of their talents, God, out of the picture. Water is that which is given to us. Wine is that which we give back to the world and to God. The place and the time for the payback is in your here and now.

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Someone once remarked that when it comes to praying or doing some apostolate, our usual response is “walang oras” (we have no time). But when it comes to worldly activities like gambling or drinking, our enthusiastic response is: “walong oras” (we have eight hours)!

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“To whom much is given, much is also required.” (Luke 12:48) This passage from the Bible should remind us that we will have to give a final accounting to the Giver of talents someday. When that day comes, may we come before God’s presence and be able to say to Him: “Mission accomplished, Lord” And may we hear Him tell us: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

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I remember our formator in high school, Fr. Mike Padua, SVD, telling us to discover and develop our talents which will be helpful later on when we become missionaries. I remember him challenging us, for example, to learn how to play the guitar. At the end of our first year, about 10 of us, out of 44, were already somehow good playing the guitar. Why? Because we picked up the guitar, found time to learn how to play it, and just simply kept on playing it. Diligence was, and still is, the name of the game called life.

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We will all face our Creator someday for the final accounting. This final accounting is a source of hope for the good, for it brings with it the promise that goodness, no matter how hidden and small, will be rewarded. On the other hand, it should serve as a warning to the wicked that they will have to account for their evil deeds, no matter how small or hidden.

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Autumn is a beautiful time of the year. I remember how pleasant the weather is when autumn sets in. I also remember how the fields are ripe for harvest at this time of the year. But autumn is also a sad time of the year, for it signals the coming of the long cold winter. I hope that many of us who are already in our autumn years will have that pleasant rather than that nervous autumn feeling. It all depends on how we lived our springs and summers. In the end, it all boils down to whether we were good and faithful, or wicked and lazy servants of God.

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Somebody said that each one of us has three names: the name we inherited from our family, the name given to us by our parents, and the name we have made for ourselves. The first two are given, while the last is made. We have a choice: to be good or bad; to be truthful or dishonest; to be humble or proud; to be selfish or to love.

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Next Sunday, Christ the King Sunday, will be the last Sunday of the liturgical year. We are reminded that we all will face our Creator and give our final accounting to Him. The goats will be separated from the sheep, and we hope to be on the side where the sheep line up.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help us choose to be good, to be truthful, to be humble, and to be loving. Amen.

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