Thursday, August 11, 2011
The Parable of the Talents
Dear Friends,
“It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one – to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. (Parable of Jesus: St. Matthew 25:14-28)
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“I greet you, My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters living in all the continents of the world. I have given you all special gifts like the talents, which the men received as told in the parable. Let me tell you some of the gifts you have received: you have received eyes to see, ears to hear, a mouth to speak, a nose to smell, an intellect to be able to think, a will to decide, and many others. In addition some have received the gift of singing, playing instruments, painting, playing all kinds of sports; some are intellectuals, teachers and others are called to the church. Each one of you has received many gifts but the big question is: how have you used the gifts I have given you? Did you use them for doing good? Did you glorify God with your gifts? At the end of the world you will be asked what you did with all the gifts you were given.
Did you use your eyes to look at good things and not something evil? Do you use your ears to listen to something that is good and not evil? Did you use your mouth to speak well of people or evil things? Did you use your hands to do evil like killing someone or hurting a person? You will have to examine what you did with those gifts. If you have used them for evil, you have offended God. I love you and I want you to do good.”
Father Melvin