Stewardship Reflection – November 15

November 15, 2020 — Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

PRV 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; PS 128:2-5; 1 THES 5:1-6; MT 25:14-30

We are reminded today that we will each be called to give an account for the gifts God has given us — our physical, intellectual and material gifts — as well as the gift of time itself.

Jesus illustrates this truth in our Gospel passage from Matthew. He tells the story — commonly known as the Parable of the Talents — of a wealthy man who is about to go on a journey. Before he leaves, the man calls his three servants to “entrust his possessions to them.”

The master in our parable gives to the care of each servant a portion of his money (“talent”) commensurate with that servant’s abilities. The first two prove to be good and faithful servants — they “immediately” put the talents to use, doubling what had been entrusted to them. The third servant reacted to this responsibility with fear — in fact, he did the opposite. He hid master’s talent, burying it in the ground. He took the safe way, the easy way out.

What a tragic response! This servant did not understand his master at all. He failed to see what a privilege he had been given. The master wanted to give all his servants the joy and satisfaction of helping him grow his kingdom. This is what our Heavenly Father wants for us, too — the incredible privilege of helping to advance the coming of the Kingdom of God.

Let us embrace the stewardship way of life, using all the gifts entrusted to us — Time, Talents and Treasure — in such a way that at the end of our life on this earth, we will hear these words from our Father: “Well done, my good and faithful servant… Come, share your master’s joy.”

— Stewardship Reflections by Catholic Stewardship Consultants