Paul talks about God's ways; God chose the lowly to confound the lofty.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Mt 25: 14-30
The Detroit News carried an article telling how John W. Cannon, a Detroit insurance man, lost an expensive summer home because he didn't have a dime for a pay phone. One night in rural Canada, John was at his new summer home, which had no phone yet. Suddenly he was awakened by a fire. He leaped up and drove to a pay booth on the highway, half a mile away. To his consternation, he had no coins at all in his pockets. He drove to Kingsville and led the fire department back to his home. By the time they arrived, his house was gone.
This story illustrates graphically that sometimes a dime can be worth more than a thousand-dollar bill. There are times when the same is true of God's plan of salvation.
***
Do we tend to value things according to their monetary value only? "God purposely chose... what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful." 1 Corinthians 1:27
***
Introduction
Little people as most of the Corinthians are should be aware that they are great before God. God chooses what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. Their boast, their wisdom, is God.
Gospel. In today’s parable of the talents, Jesus speaks of what we do for the kingdom of God with the gifts we have received from him. For the kingdom, that means, to animate the Church and the world with a faith, a hope, a love that transform us, the Church and the world. For this purpose, we invest ourselves, take risks, are involved. If we seek a deceptive security in our little practices, in immobility, we bury a hole in the ground, we bury ourselves, we opt for death, we are devalued. Do we use our God-given talents as a capital not merely to be proud of, but to bear interest for God’s plans with us and the world?
Opening Prayer
Almighty eternal God, to give a human life to their children is the great task you entrust to mothers. We thank you today for St. Monica, who prayed to you for her son, Augustine, that he might find Jesus. Grant to all parents that they may help their children live and grow in the life and the future of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Being Gratefully Productive
What Paul speaks about the Corinthians is true of many of us. If we honestly examine ourselves, did we ever merit to be who we are and where we have reached now? If God has bestowed you with a special vocation or position, it is not out of your merit, but purely out of His Grace, for His purposes. As Paul says and Mother Mary did in the Magnificat, if at all we boast, we can only boast of the marvels God has worked in our lives. Once we are aware of such marvels, the spontaneous response can only be one of gratitude. One who is so filled with such gratitude for God’s blessings, can never imagine wasting whatever talents and resources God has given, and will work day and night to put those talents to good use and return the favor, however immeasurably inadequate that is, to God when He comes calling. This is the inner dynamics of every saint and holy soul.
