Don't Bury Your Talents: Overcoming Fear and Using God's Gifts

 33 Sunday of OT, Year A

In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30), Jesus teaches us that God has entrusted each of us with precious gifts that we are called to use. Drawing on the story of Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, we reflect on how fear can prevent us from discovering and sharing these gifts. As we approach the end of the liturgical year, we are invited to examine not only the wrong things we have done, but also the good things we have failed to do.

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Those of you who are students at college or university know that final exams are approaching. I think many of us can remember what that experience was like. As exam season drew near, we often became anxious. At least, I know I did! And there was always one question I wanted answered: What is going to be on the final exam? What questions will be asked? What do I need to prepare? As we approach the end of the liturgical year, the Gospel readings give us something like the questions for our final exam. During these last Sundays, we hear several parables from Matthew's Gospel in which Jesus speaks about his return, the final judgment, and what will be expected of us. In other words, Jesus is telling us how we should prepare for our final exam.

Last Sunday, we heard the parable of the bridesmaids who were waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom. Some were wise and prepared, while others were not. The message was that we should always be ready to meet Christ. Next Sunday, on the Solemnity of Christ the King, we will hear the famous parable about the separation of the sheep and the goats. Jesus teaches that we will be judged according to how we have cared for those most in need. Whatever we have done for the least of our brothers and sisters, we have done for Christ. Today's Gospel gives us another important lesson about how we should live our lives. We hear the parable of the talents. The message of this parable is quite simple: God has given each of us precious gifts, and we are called to use them.

But what exactly is a talent? When we use the word "talent" today, we usually mean a gift or an ability that someone possesses. Interestingly, this meaning of the word comes from the biblical parable we hear today. In Jesus' time, a talent was actually a unit of weight, often used to measure precious metals such as silver or gold. A single talent represented an enormous sum of money, worth many years of ordinary wages. When Jesus describes the master giving talents to his servants, then, he is speaking about something incredibly precious. The master has entrusted his servants with something of extraordinary value. These talents can represent many things in our own lives. They can be our natural abilities, such as a gift for music, teaching, or helping others. They can also represent spiritual gifts, such as faith, hope, or the ability to encourage those around us. Even our time, our material resources, and the opportunities we receive can be understood as talents. Each of us has received something precious from God. The challenge is what we choose to do with it.

In the parable, the servants respond differently to the gifts they receive. Two of them put their talents to work and produce something more. When the master returns, he praises them for their faithfulness. The third servant, however, acts differently. He receives one talent, but instead of using it, he digs a hole in the ground and hides it. When the master returns, the servant simply hands back what he was given. He has done nothing with it. And why did he act this way? He tells the master very clearly: "I was afraid." Fear prevented him from using what he had received. I think this is something we can all relate to. Sometimes, we do not use our gifts because we are afraid. We might be afraid of failure, of making a mistake, or of what other people will think of us. Sometimes, we simply prefer to remain comfortable rather than take a risk.

A wonderful illustration of this comes from The Hobbit, the famous novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. At the beginning of the story, Bilbo Baggins is living a very comfortable life. He enjoys being at home, eating good food, and following his familiar routines. Everything is quite predictable, and Bilbo likes it that way. Then, one day, the wizard Gandalf arrives and invites Bilbo to go on an adventure. At first, Bilbo wants absolutely nothing to do with it. He is afraid of the unknown. He would much rather remain at home, where everything is safe and comfortable. Eventually, however, Bilbo accepts the invitation and sets out on an extraordinary journey with a group of companions he barely knows. During this adventure, Bilbo encounters dangers and challenges he could never have imagined. But he also discovers something remarkable about himself. He discovers gifts that he did not even know he possessed: courage, wisdom, resourcefulness, and the ability to help others in difficult situations. None of this would have happened if Bilbo had allowed his fear to keep him at home.

I think this is a beautiful illustration of what Jesus is teaching us in today's Gospel. God has given each of us precious gifts, but sometimes fear prevents us from discovering them or putting them to use. We prefer to remain comfortable rather than take the risk of sharing what we have received. This message also invites us to think about the way we examine our conscience. When we go to the sacrament of confession, we usually think about the wrong things we have done. We remember our sinful words, actions, and choices. This is important, of course. But today's Gospel reminds us that we should also examine the good things we have failed to do. In our Catholic tradition, we call these sins of omission. Perhaps we do not often think about these when we prepare for confession, but the parable of the talents reminds us that they are important.

Perhaps we have a gift for encouraging others, but we have failed to offer hope to someone who was discouraged or struggling. Perhaps we have time that we could have used to listen to someone who was lonely, but we chose not to. Perhaps we have a gift for music, teaching, or another ability that could bring joy to others, but we have kept that gift to ourselves. Perhaps we have material resources that we could share with those in need, but we have held on to them out of fear or insecurity. Or perhaps we have an ability to do well at school, but have not used that gift to help someone who was struggling. These are all ways in which we can bury the talents God has given us. Of course, this does not mean that we need to do everything or accept every opportunity that comes our way. But it does invite us to ask whether fear is preventing us from doing something good that God is calling us to do.

As we approach the end of the liturgical year, Jesus invites us to reflect on how we are living our lives and preparing to meet him. Today's parable reminds us that we will be called to give an account not only of what we have done, but also of how we have used the gifts entrusted to us. So perhaps we can finish with a simple question: What is one precious gift that God has given me that I am not fully using? It might be an ability, a spiritual gift, some material resource, or simply the time and opportunity to help another person. What is something good that God is inviting me to share with others? And perhaps we can ask ourselves a second question: Is there some fear that is holding me back? Let us pray that God will give us the courage to use the talents we have received. Rather than burying these precious gifts, may we put them at the service of others, so that when we finally meet Christ, we too may hear those beautiful words: "Well done, good and trustworthy servant."

How to Wait Well: Preparing for Christ’s Return | Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

 32 Sunday Ordinary Time, Year A

Waiting is something we often find frustrating, but Jesus teaches us that waiting can also be an opportunity for hope, joy, and transformation. Through the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids (Matthew 25:1–13), we discover that waiting for Christ is not simply about passing time but about preparing ourselves to meet someone we love. By growing in prayer, kindness, and service to others, we can allow this time of waiting to make us more like Jesus.

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A couple of weeks ago, I was ordering something online. I'm sure we've all had this experience. You find what you want, add it to your cart, and you're just about ready to pay when you come to the shipping options. I noticed that one option would have my order arrive in a couple of weeks. I thought, that's not so bad. But then I looked further down. If I paid a little more, I could get it in just three days. And there was even an option for same-day delivery! Sometimes we hear about companies experimenting with drones that can deliver packages in just a few hours. It's clear that we don't particularly like waiting. We want things as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, we learn from today's Gospel that waiting is a central part of what it means to be a Christian. In the parable of the bridesmaids, Jesus teaches us not only about the importance of waiting, but also how to wait well.

As Christians, we live in a period of waiting. We live between the resurrection of Jesus and his return in glory, an event known as the Parousia, a Greek word associated with the arrival or presence of a king. Jesus has risen from the dead. Salvation has begun. The Kingdom of God is already present among us. Yet we continue to await Christ's return, when sin and death will be finally defeated and the resurrection of the dead will take place. We live, in other words, in a state of waiting.

In today's second reading, from St. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians, we hear about some of the difficulties this waiting can cause. The Christians in Thessalonica are anxious. When will Christ return? What will happen to those who have already died? Will they miss out on Christ's coming? Paul encourages them to wait with hope, reminding them of the resurrection of Jesus and the promise that we will be with him forever.

But this raises an important question for us. How are we supposed to wait well? Does this period of waiting have a purpose? Why has God placed us in this situation of awaiting Christ's return? I think it can be helpful to distinguish between different kinds of waiting. Waiting can be a very different experience depending on what, or whom, we're waiting for. Consider two scenarios.

First, imagine you're standing at a bus stop, waiting for a bus that's late. You need to get to work or school, and as the minutes tick by, you realize you're getting closer and closer to being late yourself. How do you feel? What do you do? I know that I would probably become frustrated. I might pull out my phone, check the news, or send a message to explain that I'm going to be late. I might even become angry. This kind of waiting is unpleasant. It's something we simply want to get through. We're not particularly happy about the experience, and it doesn't necessarily change us for the better.

Now consider a second scenario. Imagine you're at an airport, waiting for a close friend or family member whom you haven't seen for five years. What is that experience like? It's very different, isn't it? You're waiting with hope and anticipation. You watch for the announcement that the plane has landed. You know the person is getting closer. You keep looking toward the doors, hoping to catch that first glimpse of someone you love. And as the moment approaches, your excitement grows. This kind of waiting is not simply something to endure. There's joy in the anticipation itself.

And notice something else. This kind of waiting can also change our behaviour. If we know that a loved one is coming to visit, we might clean the house, prepare a meal, or rearrange our schedule. We make changes because we're looking forward to being with that person. Waiting, in this case, actually moves us to action. It changes how we live.

Now, let's return to the Gospel. Which of these two scenarios best describes the bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom? Are they like people waiting impatiently for a late bus? Or are they more like someone eagerly awaiting the arrival of a loved one? Certainly, the setting of the parable points us toward the second scenario. The bridesmaids are waiting for the bridegroom to arrive so that they can celebrate a wedding. Their waiting is directed toward something joyful.

And this is how we, as Christians, are called to wait for Christ. We're not simply waiting for some event to happen. We're waiting to meet someone whom we love, someone who has already shown us how much he loves us. Whether we meet Christ at the end of our lives or at his return in glory, our waiting should be filled with hope and anticipation.

But today's Gospel teaches us something more. Waiting for Christ should not only fill us with hope. It should also transform the way we live. This brings us to the important image of the oil in the parable.

Notice that all ten bridesmaids have to wait. None of them can avoid it. The bridegroom is delayed, and eventually all of them fall asleep. The difference between the two groups is not that some have to wait while others don't. Nor is it that some grow tired while others remain awake. The difference is that some have prepared themselves for the bridegroom's arrival, while others have not. Five bridesmaids have brought enough oil for their lamps. The other five have not.

So what does this oil represent? What does it mean for us to have enough oil as we prepare to meet Christ? Throughout Christian history, different interpretations have been offered. The oil can represent our faith, our prayer, or our relationship with God. But I think there's another particularly helpful interpretation when we consider where this parable appears in Matthew's Gospel.

In this same chapter, Jesus tells another parable, the separation of the sheep and the goats. In that parable, Jesus explains that those who are welcomed into his Kingdom are those who have shown love and kindness toward people in need. They have fed the hungry, welcomed the stranger, cared for the sick, and visited those in prison. Jesus tells them that whatever they did for the least of his brothers and sisters, they did for him.

Seen in this context, the oil in the lamps can also be understood as representing our good works, especially our acts of love and service toward others. We prepare to meet Christ by learning to recognize and serve him in the people around us. Every time we show kindness to someone who is struggling, every time we reach out to someone who is lonely, every time we care for someone in need, we are preparing ourselves to meet Jesus.

This is how waiting can transform us. We don't simply sit around waiting for Christ to return. We use this time to become more like him. We grow in our love for God and in our love for our neighbour. And perhaps this is one of the reasons why this time of waiting is so important. It gives us an opportunity to grow, to change, and to prepare ourselves for the one we long to meet.

Waiting is something none of us can escape. We wait for all kinds of things in life, both big and small. And ultimately, each one of us is waiting for that moment when we will meet Jesus face to face. Today's Gospel reminds us that although we cannot always choose whether we wait, we can choose how we wait.

We can wait with frustration and impatience, as though we're standing at a bus stop wondering why the bus hasn't arrived. Or we can wait with hope, joy, and expectation, like someone at an airport eagerly awaiting the arrival of a loved one. And most importantly, we can allow this waiting to change us for the better.

As we await Christ's coming, let us prepare our lamps with the oil of prayer, kindness, and loving service. Let us use this time to grow closer to God and to become more like Jesus. Because the purpose of our waiting is not simply to pass the time until Christ comes. It is to become ready to meet the one who loves us.

Halloween, Saints, and Cemeteries: The Power of the Resurrection

 All Saints Day

What do Halloween costumes, statues of saints, and visiting a cemetery have in common? Each can remind us of the transforming power of Jesus' resurrection. As we celebrate Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day, we reflect on how Christ frees us from fear, calls us to holiness, and gives us hope in the face of death.

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What do the following three things have in common? Little children dressed up in spooky costumes for Halloween, the statues of saints we have in our church, and visiting a cemetery?

At first glance, these three things might seem to have nothing in common. But I want to suggest that they share something very important. Each provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the power of the resurrection of Jesus and how it transforms our lives.

Today, we have the wonderful opportunity to celebrate All Saints Day together on a Sunday, something that does not happen very often. All Saints Day is part of a progression of three important days in the Christian calendar. Yesterday was Halloween, today is All Saints Day, and tomorrow is All Souls Day.

Each of these days invites us to consider a different way in which the resurrection of Christ makes a difference in our lives.

Let's begin with Halloween and those spooky costumes.

When I was a child, I loved Halloween. It was one of my favourite days of the year. What's not to love? You get dressed up, walk around the neighbourhood, see your friends, and come home with bags full of candy. It's wonderful!

Even today, I think there's something beautiful about walking through a neighbourhood on Halloween and seeing people coming together. Certainly, Halloween can become overly commercialized, but it also has Christian roots.

The very word Halloween comes from All Hallows' Eve, the evening before All Saints Day. The word hallow refers to someone who is holy, a saint. Halloween, therefore, is connected with the celebration of All Saints.

I think even some of the spooky costumes and decorations can help us reflect on something important about our faith.

Throughout history, people have been frightened by many things. We fear evil, mysterious powers, and especially death. But think about what happens when we see a little child dressed up as a skeleton or a ghost. Something that might ordinarily frighten us becomes almost comical. A little child dressed as a skeleton is not particularly terrifying. In fact, it's rather cute!

In a way, these costumes take away the power of the things that frighten us.

And this points toward something profound about the cross and resurrection of Jesus.

St. Paul reminds us that through his death and resurrection, Christ has conquered the powers of sin and death. These powers no longer have the final word over our lives. Because of Christ, we do not need to live in fear.

Yesterday, as I was walking around the neighbourhood, I even saw someone dressed up as an AI robot, the kind that might someday take over the world! Perhaps that's one of our modern fears. And, of course, there are real concerns about artificial intelligence that we need to take seriously. But seeing someone dressed up in this way also reminds us that we need to keep our fears in perspective.

For Christians, our ultimate confidence is in Christ. Through his resurrection, he has overcome sin, death, and the powers of evil.

Halloween, then, can be an opportunity not simply to collect candy, but also to remember that the resurrection of Jesus frees us from living in fear.

Today, on All Saints Day, we celebrate another way in which the resurrection transforms our lives. Through the grace of the risen Christ, we are called to become more like Jesus. We are called to become saints.

In today's Gospel, we heard the Beatitudes. These teachings of Jesus show us how we are called to live as his followers. In fact, we might say that the Beatitudes are a kind of self-portrait of Jesus himself.

Jesus was a peacemaker. He showed mercy. He cared for those who were suffering and those who were most in need. He was willing to give his life out of love for others.

The Beatitudes describe the life of Jesus, and they show us the kind of people we are called to become.

This is why the saints are so important for us.

In our church, we have statues of various saints. We know their names and something about their lives. Each followed Jesus in a particular way. Their example encourages us and shows us what it means to live the Gospel in different circumstances.

But today we celebrate not only the saints whose names we know. We celebrate all the saints, including the countless holy men and women whose names have been forgotten by history but who are now with God.

Our first reading from the Book of Revelation presents a beautiful vision of the saints gathered before God.

We hear about the 144,000 who are marked with the seal of God. This is a symbolic number, formed from twelve times twelve times one thousand. The number twelve recalls the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles, while the multiplication expresses completeness and fullness.

Then John sees a great multitude that no one can count, drawn from every nation, tribe, people, and language.

What a beautiful vision! The saints are not simply a small group of extraordinary individuals. They are an immense multitude of people who have been transformed by the grace of God.

I once heard a beautiful analogy about the saints. Saints are like windows.

Think about the beautiful stained-glass windows we have in our church. Each is different, with its own colours and design. Yet what makes them beautiful is the light that shines through them.

The saints are like this. Each saint is unique, but through their lives, the light and grace of God shine into the world.

And this is what we are all called to become.

Through the resurrection of Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit, we receive the grace to be transformed, to live the Beatitudes, and to become more and more like Christ.

All Saints Day, therefore, reminds us that holiness is not simply something we admire in others. It is something to which each of us is called.

Finally, tomorrow we celebrate All Souls Day.

All Souls Day reminds us of a third way in which the resurrection of Jesus changes our lives. Because Christ has risen from the dead, we have hope in the face of death, both our own death and the death of those we love.

On All Souls Day, we pray in a special way for our deceased family members and friends. We entrust them to God's mercy, confident in the promise of Christ that death is not the end and that we are called to share in his resurrection.

We have many beautiful traditions in the Church that help us remember those who have died and express our continued communion with them.

Here at St. Peter's, for example, we have our Book of Remembrance. At the entrance of the church, there are papers where people can write the names of their deceased relatives and friends. We place these names in our large Book of Remembrance, and throughout November, we pray in a special way for all those who have died.

Another important tradition is visiting cemeteries, especially on All Souls Day.

Tomorrow, we will celebrate a special Mass at noon, followed by a blessing at St. Peter's Cemetery at 1 p.m.

Even the word cemetery tells us something beautiful about our Christian hope. It comes from a Greek word meaning a sleeping place or resting place.

Think about that for a moment.

We often say that someone who has died is resting in peace. This expression reflects something fundamental about our faith. As Christians, we believe that those who have died are not forgotten or lost forever. We await the day when Christ will come again and raise the dead to new life.

A cemetery, therefore, is not simply a place of death. It is also a place of hope.

Another beautiful tradition that we have embraced more recently here at St. Peter's is the altar of the dead, which you can see in our parish hall.

This tradition is particularly popular in Latin America, especially in Mexico. Families create beautiful altars in their homes and in public places, displaying photographs and mementos of loved ones who have died.

These altars remind us of the love we continue to have for those who have gone before us. They also remind us that, through Christ's resurrection, we have the hope of seeing them again.

So, let's return to our original question.

What do little children in spooky Halloween costumes, statues of saints in our church, and visiting a cemetery have in common?

All three can remind us of the transforming power of the resurrection of Jesus.

Halloween can remind us that because Christ has conquered sin and death, we do not need to live in fear of the powers of evil.

All Saints Day reminds us that the risen Christ gives us the grace to become more like him, to live the Beatitudes, and to become saints ourselves.

And All Souls Day reminds us that because Jesus has risen from the dead, we have hope beyond death, both for ourselves and for those we love.

As we celebrate these three days together, let us remember the incredible difference that the resurrection of Jesus makes in our lives.

Because Christ is risen, we need not live in fear. Because Christ is risen, we can become saints. And because Christ is risen, death does not have the final word.