At last! this is the last "Green Sunday (Sunday of Ordinary Time)" until well into January. Which means that it is the last of the "Teaching Sundays" – where we expound on various aspects of the teachings of the Gospel to make them more clear and more easily understandable.
On this last teaching Sunday I have decided to divide the instruction into two parts: the first: a short homily now; the second, a very timely and important instruction about something that needs mentioning, which will take place just before the final blessing.
The homily: if we could sum up the entire Church "year of grace" (which will end next Sunday) – we could say that it has been an attempt to remind us of what we have been gifted with already by means of our Baptism (and Confirmation and the gift the of Eucharist). I have spoken about this over and over again – and I will continue to do so over and over again – it is that important that we always remember that we are Baptized, Confirmed, Communicants! That's what being Catholic means! This is meant to and ought to make all the difference in our lives – and in the lives of all around us whose lives ours touches! We are meant to be with Christ the Light of the World!
In the gospel passage we read the parable of the talents: (gifts) given to each according to how much the Giver thought each was capable of using the gifts.
Some were given a large portion, others a medium portion, others a small portion. Portion size is irrelevant. What matters is what the receiver did with the gifts! Were they used creatively, skillfully, wisely, loving on behalf of other people's welfare and good? This is all that God will be interested in on that day when Jesus will come like a thief in the night.
Those who can show that they used their gifts this way – empowered by the Holy Spirit who was given specifically to help them in this regard – will enter into the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Those who thought mostly or only of themselves – who used their gift for their own satisfaction, welfare, comfort and gain – will be cast out into the darkness forever. Thus: those who were given a lot will gain an enormous amount more in the happiness and beatitude of heaven! and those where given a small amount but who misused it* – will lose everything and end up in the nothingness of eternal separation for God and their brothers and sisters!
This, dear brothers and sisters, is not just a story: it is fact related in story-form so that we may come to know its truth, believe its content and let it make a difference in the choices we make every minute of our day! It's not too late – until the last trumpet sounds. Then it will be too late!
Blessed are those who fear God! Can any one of us afford not to believe his words or to trust that he will do what he says he will do? He told us from the very beginning that holding him in awe and trusting his ways will merit us eternal life! Let's take him for his word – let's believe him!
Blessed are those who fear God!
Amen! Amen! Amen!
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