Mt 25:21 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you greater responsibilities. Come, share you master's joy'
This verse is quoted from the Parable of the Talents. Father Barron has an awesome interpreting video, which I'm glad I'd watched before I got to this part. Otherwise I would've been extremely confused at the apparent unfairness-- after all, some of us are just not good investors and risk-takers, right? The most critical point of Fr. Barron's is when he clarifies the word "talent". Talent is actually the unit of measurement of weight, and the weightiest possession is divine mercy. Hence, the talents are actually gifts of divine mercy, and the nature of the gift of the divine mercy is to be shared. This is great, but if I'm to add something, I think taking "talent" to mean the regular English synonym of gift and ability doesn't defeat the moral of the story at all. Gifts, abilities, aptitudes, intelligence, physical beauty... are but gifts of the divine mercy. They are not ends in themselves, but means for us to fulfill the Divine Providence. Whoever does well with his talents are given more, but not for himself. Notice how he says "I will give you greater responsibilities". Responsibilities, not benefits or vacation days. We are his permanent servants. Our talents are to serve our master's purpose, and we take joy in our master's joy.
Mt 26:11 The poor you will always have with you; but you will not always have me.
A ton of important New Testament events happen in this chapter, but for some reasons this one stuck out to me the most. I'm sure the Agony in the Garden or Peter's Denials have been more frequently written about. This verse specifically tells us to always put God first. There are some who say that on certain days, their work, their wife, or their children must take priority over God. It sounds touching and all that, but you can't help perceiving a sense of self-importance/inflation in the person who says that, despite his effort to appear unselfish. All the same with the indignant disciples who says the costly perfumed oil "could have been sold for much and the money given to the poor". Clearly they're irritated because it wasn't them who thought of anointing Jesus first. Oh, we hypocrites. Why don't we go out and give to the poor themselves, instead of judging others? Other than that, costly perfumed oil, magnificent cathedral and works of art, flowers, statues, prayers, 5 minutes of our day... God deserves ALL that. Anyone of us who claims that these can and should be directed to other goods lower than God are hypocrites, upset because we are not up to that level of devotion.
We sang this hymn on Sunday mass at my school today. Totally related.
These reflection paragraphs are getting long... And sorry for not providing context.
Bonus picture: Me and my college friends.
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