Reflections for the Working Soul: Parable of the Talents

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Parable of the Talents

+ RWS 782 November 19, 2017 / 33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Matthew 25: 14-30

“Entrusted his possessions to them…to each according to his ability”

Individuality

By Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD

Every person is unique. Even identical twins would have something different from each other. Jesus affirms this truth in a parable on the talents where He teaches that God gives each person different degree of His powers, sufficient enough for the person to become the individual God has planned him/her to be. Being aware of our uniqueness willed by God for us and gratefully accepting this truth about us would guide us in our journey of life. This aspect could help us understand our identity and therefore become focused and determined in our thoughts and actions in our daily life and work.

The human person at work should be aware of his individuality and uniqueness so that he would not be just like the other factors of production of goods and services, like the tools, machinery, materials and other non-human elements. Human work and activity has a character and value much different from other activities and movements. While the result of human work and activity maybe similar or even identical, the person doing the work is a unique being, who could put a unique amount of love and purpose on his actions. A machine operator has a heart and a soul which the machine does not have. Two machine operators would also be different, not in the system and structure of operating the machine, but in the intensity of the love with which each does his job, or the kind of purpose one works for. But, any machine operator, or any worker for that matter, could be the best one in his job in as much as he gives his whole being in every task he does. The Giver of talents in every person rewards sufficiently the worker who gives his whole being in his job.

Honest and hated

By Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

Most reflections on this Parable of the Talents assume that the rich man who lent money to his servants is a good and righteous man. He thus rewarded those who also in their righteousness made his money grow, and punished the one who added nothing to his wealth.

Let’s welcome another way of seeing this story, and say that the money lender is a corrupt and greedy man, say a drug lord, and the two servants—corrupt and greedy like him—multiplied his wealth by also dealing in drugs, human trafficking, jueteng, and illegal recruitment of OFWs. But the third man, being honest, regarded the money as his master’s; thus he merely accepted the money for safekeeping and did nothing to use it in any way—bad or good—that would further enrich the greedy man. Here it is not just a question of money multiplied, but also of the morality of the business it was used for—activities that take advantage of people’s weakness, need, trust, and hopes.

Do you see the connection between this parable told over 2,000 years ago and the situation in our country today? Rewarding the exploiters and punishing the honest servant is what makes the rich richer, and the poor, poorer. It becomes more pathetic when the system prevails in the workplace where co-workers more or less know one another—the unscrupulous ones band together, and the honest ones are hated. When the boss sides with the former, the latter get ostracized, fired, or sometimes even killed. Those desiring to follow Jesus must know that this is the price of servanthood—standing strong against temptation, doing only what Jesus would do.

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What they say about 'Reflections for the Working Soul', the book

Day in and out, the Inquirer brims with news. That's the Inquirer's strength: A frenzy of in-your-face news daily. Almost always the bad news. Then Reflections for the Working Soul happened every Sunday. Suddenly, we had (and have) an oasis of Good News. For reflection. For serenity. Not up there in the clouds. But right here in the dailiness of living and working with real people some of whom can really get on one’s nerves.

Thanks to Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas and Teresa R. Tunay. In three paragraphs or less, they offer a way and an attitude in the workplace not just for Sundays but for my day-to-day lifestyle to keep in touch with what works in relationships, including people one can barely stand working with. They sort out for me what’s important and really counts in life and living in the workplace as a microcosm of the real world.

So, I look forward eagerly to reading the Good News bylined by the bishop and Tunay. Because they speak to me personally about how to be most effective and productive at work while at the same time staying connected to the Good News, and thus staying in a state of serenity and grace. Providentially, their names—Precioso and Tunay (precious and true)—sum up their contributions to the development of the Inquirer as an instrument and institution of the Good News of the Lord.

—Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc
Editor-in-Chief, Philippine Daily Inquirer

From Bishop Rolly Tria Tirona:

Giving flesh and bones to our Christian faith has always been the challenge for every Christian. Translating belief in Christ into Christ-like action is extremely demanded in market and work places. Christian work ethics is the fruit of inspiration and not of pure legislation.

Reflections for the Working Soul, a weekly column of Ms Teresa Tunay and Bishop Precioso Cantillas in a newspaper section catering primarily to people at work, provides that inspiration for the many working people desirous to integrate their belief with their work.

These joint reflections make the Gospel teachings so reachable to busy people. Their insights help working people understand that they do matter in the transformation of our society and of our country. In their reflections, they show that work can lead to contemplation, while contemplation sanctifies and elevates their work to the heart of God.

I salute and congratulate Ms. Teresa Tunay and Bishop Precioso Cantillas for being the instruments of the Holy Spirit to warm and lift up the spirit of our working people.

Most Rev. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD
Bishop Prelate of Infanta
15 April 2007, Divine Mercy Sunday

Carmelite priest Junjun Agruda says:

In the mountains, geologists and miners use the elegant term "angle of repose" to describe the precise angle at which a boulder will rest on the side of a hill, rather than tumble downward. I think of that image as the point at which prayer and action meet. Every so often one of those boulders breaks loose, releasing potential energy in a crashing rockslide that permanently alters the landscape.

The creative ways in which Prayer and earthiness are wedded in these Relfections for the Working Soul forge a spirituality that makes room for piety as well as for activism. Bishop Precioso Cantillas and Ms. Teresa Tunay have grasped the nature of Prayer as partnership with God’s activity on earth. These reflections bring us to that "angle of repose", the place where contemplation and prayerful action meet. Thus in the process, the act of Prayer emboldens us to join the work of transforming the world into a place where the Father’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

—Fr. Mariano Agruda III, OCD
Provincial Superior,
Order of Discalced Carmelites, Philippines

Bishop Stude comments:

Two beautiful minds, talented persons very much respected, committed and sefless in their respective works, have gifted us with an inspiring and interesting book, Reflections for the Working Soul. The skillful authors—Bishop Precioso Cantillas and Ms. Teresa Tunay—make the Sunday Gospels more applicable, much alive in the work world. The inspiring book enhances spirituality in the workplace and imparts refreshing reflections which encourage and challenge one to make the workplace a ‘good soil’ (Mark 4,8) and to ‘bear fruit: some thirty, some sixty,and some one hundred’ (Mark 4,20).

Reading Reflections for the Working Soul is to know that the words of its gifted authors are their works, and their works are their witnessing for Jesus and His Gospels. With our works and in our places, Bishop Precioso Cantillas and Ms. Teresa Tunay take and turn us to ‘see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven’ (Matthew 5,16).

—Monsignor Ruperto Cruz Santos
Bishop of Balanga

From Monsignor Hernando Coronel:

The teamwork between Bishop Cantillas and Teresa Tunay is the application of the Second Vatican Council teaching regarding the transformation of society. A cleric and a layperson combined their personal insights to give light on the values needed in the workplace. Indeed, they have witnessed against a rat race world, a dog-eat-dog milieau, a corporate atmosphere of power and control. Their spirituality of the workplace heralds the values of the Gospel in the business setting, that it is important to pray before deciding, to seek God’s will before acting in the commercial sphere. Theirs is an advocating of building a faith community in the workplace where Christian principles reign and are lived out.

—Monsignor Hernando Coronel
Archdiocese of Manila

Fr. Mario Baclig, SDB, says:

If once we had worker-priests, now we have a genuine worker-bishop. And this book is proof of this. Bishop Cantillas is himself a worker; he grew up in Don Bosco Cebu getting his hands soiled and greasy in the machine shop. When he was nominated bishop, he had all set and ready a pastor’s staff that he had been fabricating for someone else. And now, a published compilation of his thoughts for workers. This is a precious gift for today’s workers, from a worker-bishop!

Teresa Tunay is his partner in this endeavor. She comes with her unique journalistic talent and creativity. But more than that, she brings in a rare sensitivity to the simple and often unnoticed lives of ordinary workers. Her love and concern for young workers has kept the Blue Collar magazine going despite all odds. I cannot wait to get hold of this book. How I wish that workers worldwide would have a similar privilege!

—Fr. Mario Baclig, SDB
Salesiana Publishers

From the late Fr. James Reuter, SJ:

The secret of doing anything well is to love what you are doing —to enjoy your job. If, when you wake each morning, you are eager to meet the challenge of this day; if your mind is filled with it, joyfully, when you are brushing your teeth, when you are in the shower, when you are drinking your coffee. . . . . .your work will be a smash! What these 'Reflections' do is to remind you that your work is an apostolate. . . you are serving the children of God. You might not have silver and gold, but what you have you give—yourself! And that is the most beautiful gift of all. This little book makes you realize that you are serving God. . . every day, every hour, every moment. . . . in the market place. It is worth reading—one set of reflections every day. It will fill your life with love. You will go to work smiling.

—Fr. James Reuter, SJ
Director, National Office on Mass Media for the Catholic Church in the Philippines