It is a biblical principle that if we are unable to handle the responsibility that God has given us, it can be taken away. Today (The Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time) we hear Jesus tell a parable in the Gospel of St. Matthew about three servants who were given money by their master. They were told to make use of it while their master was away. When he returned, two of them had used their “talents” and one had not. Jesus concluded the parable by saying: “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
So—let’s talk about stewardship: time, talent and treasure. The word ‘stewardship’ comes from Greek and means to manage God’s house, and that we are God’s house. All that we have is a gift from God. The work of ministry boils down to two, powerful, and moving commitments: to serve and to give. Jesus taught this truth, and Jesus demonstrated this truth. As those who gather around the Lord's Table and share in the Communion that makes us one, we also hear the call of the Savior to remember Him by being His bodily presence—His hands, His feet, His voice, His hugs in this world by committing to serve and to give. This responsibility is conferred upon us by Baptism, and today’s scripture reminds us to “use it or lose it.”
Here is a music parable: An orchestra director was having a lot of trouble with one of his percussionists (drummers). He talked and talked and talked with the guy, but the drummer’s performance did not improve. Finally, in front of the whole orchestra, he said, “When a musician just can't handle his instrument and doesn't improve when given help, they take away the instrument, give him two sticks, and make him a drummer.” A whisper was then heard from the percussion section: “And if he can't handle even that, they take away one of his sticks and make him a conductor.”
I know that being human can mean that it is very easy to take what we have been given for granted—and that I need to remind myself that all that I have has been given to me by God to use for His glory. It is an exciting thought to realize that as I use what God has given me, He will bless me with even more opportunities for service in this field of souls. That is what is meant in the scripture today about growing rich: rich in love, rich in joy, rich in relationships. On the other hand, it is a sobering thought to realize that if I fail to make use of what I have been given, I may lose it. So, the question is: what are you doing with what God has given you? St. Paul tells us today that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night.” He reminds us to do what we may now. Food for thought.
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
So—let’s talk about stewardship: time, talent and treasure. The word ‘stewardship’ comes from Greek and means to manage God’s house, and that we are God’s house. All that we have is a gift from God. The work of ministry boils down to two, powerful, and moving commitments: to serve and to give. Jesus taught this truth, and Jesus demonstrated this truth. As those who gather around the Lord's Table and share in the Communion that makes us one, we also hear the call of the Savior to remember Him by being His bodily presence—His hands, His feet, His voice, His hugs in this world by committing to serve and to give. This responsibility is conferred upon us by Baptism, and today’s scripture reminds us to “use it or lose it.”
Here is a music parable: An orchestra director was having a lot of trouble with one of his percussionists (drummers). He talked and talked and talked with the guy, but the drummer’s performance did not improve. Finally, in front of the whole orchestra, he said, “When a musician just can't handle his instrument and doesn't improve when given help, they take away the instrument, give him two sticks, and make him a drummer.” A whisper was then heard from the percussion section: “And if he can't handle even that, they take away one of his sticks and make him a conductor.”
I know that being human can mean that it is very easy to take what we have been given for granted—and that I need to remind myself that all that I have has been given to me by God to use for His glory. It is an exciting thought to realize that as I use what God has given me, He will bless me with even more opportunities for service in this field of souls. That is what is meant in the scripture today about growing rich: rich in love, rich in joy, rich in relationships. On the other hand, it is a sobering thought to realize that if I fail to make use of what I have been given, I may lose it. So, the question is: what are you doing with what God has given you? St. Paul tells us today that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night.” He reminds us to do what we may now. Food for thought.
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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