By: Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD
Somebody quipped: “In this world there are brilliant minds, some are average minds, and others never mind!”
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When I studied in the SVD theological seminary in Tagaytay, we had an exceptionally bright seminarian. In class when the professor was lecturing, he would make sketches on his notebook, seemingly unmindful what the mentor was saying.
But when examinations came, he would get a perfect or near perfect score! Not surprisingly, he graduated with highest honors.
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By the way, I was also a consistent dean’s lister. As a matter of fact, I bragged I was the valedictorian of my class. And why? Because I was the only one of seven who made it to the priesthood! But I mixed with other “survivors” from other classes so that we were 12 when ordained priests.
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We do have people with extraordinary talents and gifts like our very own pound-for-pound king in boxing, winner of seven championship belts, Manny Pacquiao; Filipina beauties have won in international competitions; Filipinos are known worldwide for singing talents, winning in international competitions.
We might be tempted to ask, “Why am I not blessed with intelligence, good looks, a musical ear or a sports skill?” Is God playing favoritism?
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The Parable of the Talents (Mt 25, 14-30) in this 33rd Sunday gospel gives us a glimpse of the answer. It tells us that God does give different gifts to everyone. One receives five talents (currency during Jesus’ time), another two, and another one. Just why there is INEQUALITY of talents is a mystery. But wouldn’t it be a boring world if everybody were geniuses and mega stars? Or, if all were beauty queens and nobody around would admire and clap their hands?
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Despite the inequality, everybody gets sufficient qualities to work with. It is not how many one has that matters, but HOW one uses his gifts.
The man in the parable who received one talent was not condemned because he had only one. He was condemned because, by burying it in the ground, he failed to use it.
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Like that man who received only one talent, one may be tempted to say, “I have only one talent; I can do so little with it. It is not worthwhile trying for the little contribution I can make.”
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Such a defeatist attitude should not be entertained since external success in God’s eyes depends not on the extraordinary feats and qualities but on the spirit behind the effort. A popular movie star or highly-placed official is just as successful as a lowly janitor or a plodding missionary in the backwoods given the right motivation.
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Christ’s Parable of the Talents also teaches us about ACCOUNTABILITY.
Do you use your God-given talent not just for yourself and family but also to reach out to the less fortunate? Worse, are you using your talent to enrich yourself through illegal means?
The Lord said: “To whom much is given, much is expected” (Luke 12,48).
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THE LIGHTER SIDE. The classroom was very noisy so the teacher shouted: “Let all the dumb ones stand up!” No one stood up and the class was like a cemetery. Seconds later one kid stood up.
The teacher asked: “Why did you get up? Are you dumb?” “No.” said the kid. “I just felt bad to see you stand alone.”