Pastor's Letter 20201115 - 15 November 2020 - Creative Fidelity

[Father Michael]

 

November 15th, 2020

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today’s Theme:   “Creative Fidelity

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

A Message from Father †Michael

Scripture Note

Today’s First Reading sets before us the example of a woman who uses her talents to live an industrious and virtuous life (Proverbs 31: 10-31.)  In Biblical times, the woman’s role was one of homemaking, childcare, and in such manner, becoming “a virtuous wife.”  

†Paul believed the “Second Coming of Christ” (the parousia) was imminent.  Therefore, he urged the Thessalonians to “be watchful,” in today’s Second Reading (1 Thessalonians 5: 1-6.)  

However, today’s Gospel selection suggested that “the end times” would be delayed (Matthew 25:14-30.)   Nonetheless, Matthew also spoke about the necessity of “being watchful.”  In his Parable of the Talents he spells out the ways in which this watchfulness is demonstrated: We are charged with carrying out the Lord’s instructions to the best of our God-given ability.  

The Need for Self-Expression

Self-expression is as necessary for us as the leaf and blossom are for a tree.  Without it, we cannot achieve true fulfillment.  Many noteworthy individuals have given their “take” on this point:  Poet and artist, Khalil Gibran, put it this way:  “There is a great loneliness in almost everyone—a great hunger to express themselves;”  The expressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh once remarked: “Between what I perceive and what I express there is a wall; I have spent my life trying to break down that wall.” When we express ourselves, we can make ourselves “whole,” and therefore “holy.”  The psychologist, Abraham Maslow, in presenting his “Hierarchy of Needs,” called the highest state of realization “Self Actualization.”  

One wonders how many people have fully developed as human beings.  Although there are multiple ways of self-expression, much talent goes unexpressed in many people.  When this happens, those who possess the talents are the greatest losers.  It’s a sad fact that some people aimlessly drift through life, and then die, having realized only a fraction of their true potential.  

Expression is the opposite of repression.  To repress is to “bottle up,” to stifle, smother or suppress.  Repression inevitably gives rise to depression.  To express oneself is to articulate, to reveal, to “bring out” hidden talents.  Some expression may involve pain, but it ultimately leads to joy.  It is by living that we discover our true talents, and it is by using them that we grow.  

Every talent has to be developed.  Sometimes much hard work, discipline and patience are required for a talent to bear its fruit.  We see this in the case of the first two servants in today’s Gospel selection, who marshaled their abilities and prospered; seeking opportunities and profit for their master’s investment.   The third servant, however, was not a good steward.  Cringing in fear of losing the “talent” entrusted to him, and what wrath might inure in the case he lost it, he squandered what he was given; and produced nothing extra of value when pressed to report his experience.  It’s not that he lacked opportunity.  Rather, through a combination of laziness, cowardice and selfishness he failed, and as expected, was cast out to suffer.

Wasted Talent

Talent has, first of all, to be discovered and recognized.  It’s said that our true birth when we awaken to our gifts and talents.  Often it takes an outsider to recognize talent.   Just as the sun helps to bring about the birth of fragrant flowers, lying hidden in the soil, so too, there are people, often called “talent scouts,” who find their fulfillment in helping to unfold the talents God has deposited in others.  Perhaps they are the most talented people of all.  

The case of the Russian writer, Dostoevsky, who was only twenty when he wrote his first book Poor Folk, is a case in point.  The foremost critic of his day, a man, named Belinsky read the manuscript of the young Dostoevsky, and said, “You have brought a terrible truth to our attention.  You have a great gift.  Take good care of this gift and then you will become a great writer.”   So intoxicated was he by the encouraging words of the famous critic, Dostoevsky later wrote, “That was the happiest moment of my entire life.”   It was so important a moment because he was just awakening to his talent as a writer.  Still quite unsure of himself, he was very vulnerable.  Such recognition confirmed his belief in his own talent, and launched him on a life spent expressing himself through his writings.      

Most people would agree that no one is “born to be great.”  Every once in awhile, however, someone comes to prominence that may be an exception.  

One young man, (let's call him Chris,) was a star on the soccer field.  Of course, he had to work at it, but everybody agreed Chris was a “natural.”  He was aware how much better he was than his peers, and so, it came as no surprise when Chris was “snapped up” by a top professional team.  He made an immediate impact, shooting from obscurity to fame almost overnight, becoming the team’s leading scorer in just two years.   After that, one success followed another, so that eventually, he was also playing for his country, in international competitions.  Everywhere soccer was discussed, his name was mentioned.  He was a hero to the fans, and a celebrity to the media.   Having been a poor kid from the back streets of his hometown, only a few years before, Chris reveled in his success. He became rich and famous at a young age: marrying a beautiful model; driving a Mercedes; he was the envy of every schoolboy who ever played the game.  

However, things started to “go wrong” for Chris.  Rumors about his heavy drinking, and carousing became obviously well founded, causing his playing began to suffer; his personal life began to disintegrate; and then, his wife suddenly left him, claiming him to be selfish, immature and abusive.   A once promising career abruptly came to an end, leaving Chris  remembered not for his successes, but for the manner in which he squandered his rare talent.  

Some people fail, even though they might start with great promise.  Others with little talent succeed, because the qualities that help a person succeed are less than those of talent than of character.   Talent is formed in quiet recesses, whereas character develops in the midst of the world.  It can be dangerous when talent “springs up” overnight.  Far better that it should grow quietly, almost unnoticed, like a seed growing into a tree.  When talent grows this way, a kind of wholeness results.

This may lead us to ask, “Of what use is it to develop my talent if I leave myself undeveloped?”  The qualities of faith, patience, and readiness to learn, along with the willingness to do the hard work to develop are also needed for growth.  Many people may be born with great natural ability, and only later discover they do not have the self-discipline and patience to build upon their endowment.  

Talent is a responsibility, and in some cases, it can be as much a burden as a gift.   Natural talent can also inflate egos, as in Chris’ case, allowing those so blessed to forget that all talents come from God.  We are merely the custodians of those gifts.   

When we are tempted to ask God for “favors,” or “favorable outcomes” to our endeavors, we should first determine if we have done the utmost with the gifts He has already bestowed upon us.  The more proper approach to prayer would be to "prayerfully meditate" on the talents we have, giving thanks to God in prayer.  Next, we should seek guidance and the help of the Holy Spirit to maximize our effectiveness.  

An all-powerful and all-knowing Creator surely is aware of our “plight”...by definition….  The true “efficacy of prayer” then becomes asking the Spirit to help us find wisdom within; to find the best means to utilize all our education, experience and skills; rather than simply petitioning God for  “favors,” before we have put forth the effort.

May God Richly Bless You!

“ Your talent is God’s gift to you.  What you do with your life is your gift to God.”~~Leo Buscaglia 

To hear a live stream of The Holy Mass, for today, click here: https://youtu.be/CeisIFPnsPg

 

I Choose You.mp3

 

I Choose You.docx

Edited November 15, 2020 by Father Michael