Are you afraid to try out new things with your faith? Have you ever experienced the Lord’s protection and provision when you were down to nothing? - Daily Reflections November 16, 2016

USING OUR TALENTS WELL

 

If there is one thing that is very disappointing to God, it is wasting our gifts and talents that He has bestowed on us. He entrusted to us natural gifts and talents to be used for our own good and the good of our Christian communities. Today’s parable tells us that it is often fear that causes us to hide our talents and not to take the risk of using them. Herein lies the challenge of trusting in God’s promise that He will be there to give us everything we need when we step out in His service. Another parable tells us how Jesus sends out His disciples with virtually nothing — no money and no food so they will learn how to rely on the providence of God. During my priestly formation, I remember one holiday where we were sent out for a week in pairs, with no money and only a spare change of clothes. We were given a destination — somewhere within about 350 kilometers from our starting point — and off we went, hitchhiking to get there.

       It was a scary experience at first but when I allowed my nerves to settle, it became a lot of fun. My partner and I were offered a lift by a couple who were wondering why there were so many pairs of young men hitchhiking that day (we were about eight pairs). They took us straight to where we were going and we begged for food and so on. By the time the week had ended and we had all returned to home base, we were full of faith-inspiring stories. God looks after His people even when we do things that others might think are a little crazy.

      One of the lessons I learned from that experience is that you will never fully experience the providence of God until you step out in faith and ask for miracles to happen. We have to take the risk and let the Holy Spirit do His stuff. Fear will never get us anywhere; faith can move the biggest of mountains. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you afraid to try out new things with your faith? Have you ever experienced the Lord’s protection and provision when you were down to nothing?

 

Holy Spirit, give me the grace to entrust my life into God’s hands and to take risks in using the gifts You have given me. I want to see Your miracles in my life and through my ministry. Amen.