This Sunday's readings we hear about the story of the parable of the talents. In the parish newsletter reflection encourages us to take a risk and use our talents.
In today’s Gospel, the parable of the talents reminds me of our confirmation programme, St Peter’s Way and an activity in which we invite our young talented and gifted young people (even if they don’t always recognise or accept the fact!) to use their talents to complete the £5 challenge. They are asked to use the money to buy resources to help them to make things or provide a service and then bring back the money they make. Often this is donated to St Vincent de Paul (SVP) which is a group of dedicated parishioners who use their talents to help those in need.
We are like the three people in the parable, given different gifts and talents and asked to use them. Even if we have the gifts, sometimes we can be afraid or uncertain about offering to help, doing something in case we get it wrong. This reminds me of the ‘weak and wobbly hearts’ reflection, where we doubt ourselves and think we aren’t good enough and so bury our talents. The reflection like the parable, and our patron St Peter, reminds us that ‘God loves a trier’ he knows us and loves us and is always with us if only we can take a risk to use our talents.
Weak and wobbly hearts
Christian action is done by you and me, ordinary people with weak and wobbly hearts who do not have the security of trained skills etc I think Christian action and the promotion of the Kingdom is done by those who are afraid of what people will say, who are a bit cowardly, who are a bit diffident about standing up in public, do not have the security of plenty of practice and experience, can be capsized by failure, hurt by remarks, hurt by being ignored; find themselves reacting jealously when they do not want to, are overcome by despair, yet go on loving and trusting. It is weak and wobbly hearts that Christ chooses, as he chose Peter, James and John – all the disciples. They were not high fliers of Galilee or Judea. They were ordinary folk, capable of love.
Letting Go in Love, John Dalrymple, Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd, 1986in Ryelands P (2000) journey Together Towards First Holy Communion, Suffolk: Kevin Mayhew