Daily Office Readings for Friday of Week 3 of Advent Year 2
AM Psalm 40, 54; PM Psalm 51 Zech. 7:8-8:8; Rev. 5:6-14; Matt. 25:14-30
“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.” (Matthew 25: 14 – 15)
This is a very familiar parable. It is about using whatever gifts we have to the best of our abilities. In this parable the one servant gets only one talent and decides not to use it. He buries it until the return of the master. Bad move.
What I ponder about is the relative affects of this parable. The man who receives the one talent witnesses the others receiving more, one gets 4, the next gets half of that which is two and finally he, the third servant, gets half of that, only one. So much here to ponder.
What I want to bring to the forefront is the responsibility we all have to do the best we can with what God has graced us with. Whatever gift or gifts we have, it is what our family, or community or the world needs. God does not waste gifts. Some of us have gifts of mathematics; some of us have gifts of voice as in singing; some of us have gifts of extraordinary compassion; some of us have gifts of agricultural cultivation and some of us are blessed with more than one; maybe four or two or just one like our servant above.
I tend not to focus on what will happen to us if we waste our gifts. The saddest part for me is that we all suffer for the lack of what we could have enjoyed. God does not waste gifts. Has God gifted you with something we need in our lives right now? I already know the answer is yes. Please make use of it, we need it. Remember, what the world needs and what you enjoy doing is where God enters our world.
Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to and through the saints of God and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 