In today’s Gospel proclamation Jesus is seen teaching the disciples about the kingdom principles. We need to be aware of the talents we have been given by God. We have been given talents and gifts. The gifts may vary.

A gift we may fail to recognize as a gift, is the time, given to us. Are we using our time to build the kingdom of God? We need to engage in intercessory prayers for the dead and the living and show empathy to people in pain and sadness. We should also share our knowledge specially spiritual knowledge. We are called to support the needy: the ones who are emotionally, psychologically, physically, spiritually and materially in need. Another talent that we can develop is spending our time to listen to another, starting with our family members and being with the lonely.

What do people generally refer to, as talents? Intelligence, eloquence, creativity, ability to play musical instruments, ability to sing, dance and excel in sports. These are gifts of God, but unless we use them for the glory of God we might lose our way because of these gifts. We should not misunderstand the nature of our gifts. Let us ask Jesus how we should use the gifts that he has given us.

God has given us many talents and we need to recognize these talents and also develop these talents. The development of talents comes by prayer and also using the gifts for building the kingdom of God.

The parable is clear that there will be a day when we will be called upon to give an account of how we have used our talents. Jesus promises that those who have used their gifts will be rewarded. Jesus says that those who do not use the gifts will be cast away. Let us examine ourselves, how we have used the gifts given by God.

In the second reading, writing to the Thessalonians, St Paul reminds us that death will come as a thief. Thus we need to stay alert and do the good works that we were sent to this earth to do.

Let us recall the words of St. Joseph Vaz, who said: “Remember that one cannot easily do at the time of death what one neglected to do all his life”.

The first reading from the book of Proverbs gives us an example of a wife who uses her gifts to build a holy family, and the writer calls her an excellent wife.

Let us thank God for the gifts given to us. Let us surrender our lives to the Lord, so that we will be able to use the gifts for the glory of God.

Prayer: Abba Father, pour out your Spirit on us, that we may be able to do the works that we have been sent to do. Amen.