Use Your Gifts

 Luke 19: 11-28

The Parable of the Ten Minas

¹¹ While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. ¹² He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. ¹³ So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’¹⁴ “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’¹⁵ “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.¹⁶ “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’¹⁷ “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’¹⁸ “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’¹⁹ “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’²⁰ “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. ²¹ I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’²² “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? ²³ Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’²⁴ “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.²⁵ “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’²⁶ “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ²⁷ But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

²⁸ After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Clearly Jesus wants us to use whatever gifts we have been given by the Father unselfishly, fearlessly and confidently. They were given to us for a purpose and if we are afraid to use them, or with a sense of false humility, tuck them away in a closet, we are being unfaithful to the God who wants us to use them.  We insult God and cheat our neighbor if we do not use them for the good of another or of the community where we live and serve.  Today, let us take time to reflect on how we are using our gifts and make adjustments where necessary.  God will help us; we need to take the first step.

Bro.. Rene

We believe, O Lord, that you are consummate fairness. You know all the circumstances in our lives, our strengths and our weaknesses. We have been given the gift of life in our birth and the gift of your spiritual life in our baptism. Help us, we plead, to give back our self to you as you gave us of your very self in eternal life.

 Rev. Nicholas Ayo, C.S.C.