33 OTA.11; Prov 31:10-31; 1Thess 5:1-16; Matthew 25:14-30
Question: Who are you?
I did not ask what your job is or what kind of work you do.
I did not ask where you are from.
I did not ask what are your favorite sports or activities.
I asked, “Who are you?”
It is interesting to note that in the 25th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel there are three parables told in a row: of the Bridesmaid, of the Sheep and Goats, & the Parable of the Talents. Essentially the same phrase is used in each: after a long time.
The bridegroom, the landowner, the judgment comes after a long time.
Perhaps this is Matthews’s way of saying to us: Our master may be delayed in his return, but, in the meanwhile, what are you doing with the talent that has been entrusted to you. Let us be clear on one issue. God expects a return. We had better not simply bury that which has been given us and return it when he comes.Well, it is obvious that the star, or we might say the villain, of the story is the one talent man. The salient question is: why did he choose to do nothing with the one talent that had been given to him? We are not really given the answer. We are left to speculate. And that is precisely what I would like to do. Let us speculate about his inaction… 1. Is his inaction due to the fear of failure?
2. Is his inaction because of the ‘What if” game?
3. Will one little talent make a difference? (Source: esermons.com)
Jesus said, “The Kingdom of heaven will be like this…A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them, [he gave] to each according to his ability. [At his return he repaid each according to how well he used his money.]
And an interesting part: “But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.”
In his book Souls on Fire, Elie Wiesel invites us to think about using our talents in a different way than we ordinarily use them. He says that when we meet our Creator, we won’t be asked, “How well did you use the talents I gave you to do great things for my people on earth?” Rather, we’ll be asked.
“How well did you use your talents to become you?”
Another question: If Jesus asked me/you right now, “How well are you using your talents to become what I made you to be?”
2 A rose only becomes beautiful & blesses others when it opens and blooms. Its greatest tragedy is to stay in a tight closed bud, never fulfilling it potential. Anonymous/Link, Jesus 2000
But what does the parable tell us about the master? He entrusts his servants with an unimaginable treasure. He exhibits amazing trust while he is away. When he learns how the first two have doubled the treasure, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” & gives them more. He even says, “Come, share your master’s joy” This is really an extraordinary master – trusting welcoming, generous, benevolent.
Steve Jobs founded the enormously successful company Apple Computer. Jobs decided that Mr. John Sculley was the man needed to help him fulfill his dream of building a completely different kind of computer company, one which would make computers available to every person in the world.
However, Mr. Sculley was comfortably & safely entrenched as president of the Pepsico Corporation (Pepsi). In this position, John Sculley had achieved everything that a man could want: power, prestige, public recognition, an enormous salary & a secure future.
The thought of a career change requiring a move to the West Coast frightened him. He was concerned about losing pensions, deferred compensation, the adjustment to living in California, in other words, “stuff that preoccupies the middle-aged." He says that "I was overly concerned with what would happen next week and the week after next."
John Sculley knew that he was safe & happy. But he also knew that he disliked the competitive nature of the business & he was bored. Steve Jobs at Apple sensed this. And so he finally confronted his new friend with this pointed question. He said to John, "Do you want a chance to change the world?" That question penetrated deep into the heart & mind of John Sculley. It changed the course of his life. He went to Apple Computer & helped it to grow into one of the most successful corporations in the world. Mr. Sculley's life was changed because he took the risk & decided to invest.
Was it a risk? Yes. But without it, there would be no reward.
(Source; esermons.com/ Dotterer, Living the Easter Faith,).
Afraid…take a chance today. How about trusting your God?
Forget fear, do God’s will. Share your part of the Good News.
Become who you were meant to be – another Christ in your own way!
At this Liturgy, I asked a question, “Who are you?”
Answer, “I am one of God’s gifts to the world!”
Question: Who are you?
I did not ask what your job is or what kind of work you do.
I did not ask where you are from.
I did not ask what are your favorite sports or activities.
I asked, “Who are you?”
It is interesting to note that in the 25th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel there are three parables told in a row: of the Bridesmaid, of the Sheep and Goats, & the Parable of the Talents. Essentially the same phrase is used in each: after a long time.
The bridegroom, the landowner, the judgment comes after a long time.
Perhaps this is Matthews’s way of saying to us: Our master may be delayed in his return, but, in the meanwhile, what are you doing with the talent that has been entrusted to you. Let us be clear on one issue. God expects a return. We had better not simply bury that which has been given us and return it when he comes.Well, it is obvious that the star, or we might say the villain, of the story is the one talent man. The salient question is: why did he choose to do nothing with the one talent that had been given to him? We are not really given the answer. We are left to speculate. And that is precisely what I would like to do. Let us speculate about his inaction… 1. Is his inaction due to the fear of failure?
2. Is his inaction because of the ‘What if” game?
3. Will one little talent make a difference? (Source: esermons.com)
Jesus said, “The Kingdom of heaven will be like this…A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them, [he gave] to each according to his ability. [At his return he repaid each according to how well he used his money.]
And an interesting part: “But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.”
In his book Souls on Fire, Elie Wiesel invites us to think about using our talents in a different way than we ordinarily use them. He says that when we meet our Creator, we won’t be asked, “How well did you use the talents I gave you to do great things for my people on earth?” Rather, we’ll be asked.
“How well did you use your talents to become you?”
Another question: If Jesus asked me/you right now, “How well are you using your talents to become what I made you to be?”
… what would I/you have to say???
Consdier this….
2 A rose only becomes beautiful & blesses others when it opens and blooms. Its greatest tragedy is to stay in a tight closed bud, never fulfilling it potential. Anonymous/Link, Jesus 2000
But what does the parable tell us about the master? He entrusts his servants with an unimaginable treasure. He exhibits amazing trust while he is away. When he learns how the first two have doubled the treasure, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” & gives them more. He even says, “Come, share your master’s joy” This is really an extraordinary master – trusting welcoming, generous, benevolent.
He gives his servants freedom to risk & to act.
Now a true story on taking a risk to become yourself, of not burying our unique “talents” ….Steve Jobs founded the enormously successful company Apple Computer. Jobs decided that Mr. John Sculley was the man needed to help him fulfill his dream of building a completely different kind of computer company, one which would make computers available to every person in the world.
However, Mr. Sculley was comfortably & safely entrenched as president of the Pepsico Corporation (Pepsi). In this position, John Sculley had achieved everything that a man could want: power, prestige, public recognition, an enormous salary & a secure future.
The thought of a career change requiring a move to the West Coast frightened him. He was concerned about losing pensions, deferred compensation, the adjustment to living in California, in other words, “stuff that preoccupies the middle-aged." He says that "I was overly concerned with what would happen next week and the week after next."
John Sculley knew that he was safe & happy. But he also knew that he disliked the competitive nature of the business & he was bored. Steve Jobs at Apple sensed this. And so he finally confronted his new friend with this pointed question. He said to John, "Do you want a chance to change the world?" That question penetrated deep into the heart & mind of John Sculley. It changed the course of his life. He went to Apple Computer & helped it to grow into one of the most successful corporations in the world. Mr. Sculley's life was changed because he took the risk & decided to invest.
Was it a risk? Yes. But without it, there would be no reward.
(Source; esermons.com/ Dotterer, Living the Easter Faith,).
Afraid…take a chance today. How about trusting your God?
Forget fear, do God’s will. Share your part of the Good News.
Become who you were meant to be – another Christ in your own way!
At this Liturgy, I asked a question, “Who are you?”
Answer, “I am one of God’s gifts to the world!”