In God’s Ways

Today’s Gospel Text: And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; 18 and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Luke 2:16-21

Reflection: There are some things in life which cannot be told to others nor will it be easily understood by others.  

Can you tell any adult about engineering or science or politics?  One has to be technically proficient in that particular subject in order to understand the depth of the matter.

But there are something’s in life which are understood easily and yet not completely understood as it is supposed to be understood. 

When it comes to the word of God we face a similar predicament; there are some who never understand it and there are some who understand it and yet never understand it as it is supposed to be understood and the worse is when they understand it superficially and yet think that they have understood it all.

It also depends on who communicates to whom and how it is communicated; a good teacher will normally make their student thorough in what they teach.

In this gospel passage we have the angels who have communicated to the shepherds about the Child Jesus: I am sure when God or his agents communicate they communicate much more perfectly then any human being.

Because when humans communicate, they need to take into consideration the categories in the mind of the other, which is not done most of the time or is done imperfectly.

But when God or his agents communicate they know the categories in the human mind, its many objections and then it is, above all, communicated in grace to the spirit, which perfectly understands.

Hence what was understood by the Shepherds through the message of the angels was well listened to by the people who heard these shepherds share and yet did not understand it and “wondered at what the shepherds told them.” (vs.18)

Prayer:  Lord, put your Spirit within me so that like Mary I too may learn to ponder on your word and then cause me to walk in your ways. (cfr. Ez. 36:27)

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The Holy Spirit

Today’s Gospel Text: "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. 17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' Matt 25:14-30

Reflection: Ability is the quality of being able to do something, especially the physical, mental, financial, or legal power to accomplish something; hence it is said, “each according to ones ability.”

How foolish it is when sometimes people use the term talent interchangeably with ability. The Scripture tells us that the master assigned the talents each according to one’s ability: “…. to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability.” (vs. 15)

What could this talent be that the master assigned to his servants?

The preceding verse reveals to us that the talent was the personal property of the master: "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property.” (vs. 14)

There is no doubt that the parable opens up to us, in all wisdom, the things of the kingdom of God and the insights thereof.

Hence, if the master is offering us his personal property and we were to apply this to the Kingdom of God, then we can rightly ask; what is that personal property which God wants to entrust to his servants, if it is not his Holy Spirit.

Hence, St. Paul in scriptures says; 

 “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” 1 Cor 12:7-11

  

What then is Apol'los? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 1 Cor 3:5

    

But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Eph 4:7 (for further reading: Eph. 4: 11-16)

    

Finally when the Lord will judge, each one accordingly: “… all the churches shall know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.” Rev 2:23

Prayer: Lord, you have entrusted to me your talents at Baptism, help me not to quench your Holy Spirit nor bury him, but instead seek to be his instrument for the common good.”

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us