Author: ramez

Abomination of Desolation

Adapted from a sermon by Fr Daniel Fanous

Passage: Matthew 24:3-35

The gospel this week is quite similar to the gospel from last week. That’s because the church takes a number of weeks for preparation. The church recognises that it takes a while for messages to enter into hearts. So in these weeks leading up to the feast of the New Year in the Orthodox Church on September 12, the Church reminds us that the Year is coming to an end, our lives will come to an end, and that the world will also eventually come to its end. 

And because this is something we don’t want to hear, the Church repeats it to us several times. We don’t want to hear that our lives will come to an end. We know that family members suddenly become sick or pass away, that accidents happen, every day, every minute every second. So the church reminds us of this. 

It’s also fortuitous that on this day also, it is Father’s Day. This is also a reminder for us fathers – both biological and priestly – of the words that Christ speaks to us. The gospel today says:

“Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 

Christ then gives us a catalogue of signs and indications of the end of times. That’s what we’ve just heard in this long gospel: hearing about things that will happen on the earth, wars, rumours, persecution. And one of the warnings or the signs that he gives to us is quite striking, he says, “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place,” Matthew adds his own commentary in parentheses: “(whoever reads, let him understand)” then continues, “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.”

Be radical, because things are upon you. And these words are really strange. This abomination of desolation. It comes from Daniel 9:27 in the Old Testament where he speaks about an abomination of desolation.

And most likely, he’s speaking about a very concrete historical event. There was a figure by the name of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. His last name means the “manifestation of God” because this is who he thought he was. He was the head of the Seleucids, and they came and overtook Israel in about 70 BC. When he overtook the place, he realised that the Jews held the temple of God as the most sacred space, and as the core of their being.

He then took an altar of Zeus, one of the Greek gods, and put that in the Holy of Holies, where only God was supposed to be.

It was so horrific that that event was burnt into the times, the people, the history, that this was the symbol of how things have totally been desecrated. That the place of God has now become the place of a Greek god.

So after that, you get Christ speaking about it in this passage, most likely talking about an event that would happen with the Romans, only a few decades later, which is why Matthew wrote, “whoever reads, let him understand”. He tells us to pay attention, we know what he’s talking about. And that’s because one of the Roman emperors, Caligula, proposed to set up his own image in the temple in about 40 AD. 

St Paul in Thessalonians talks again about this abomination of desolation. When something takes the rightful place of God, when the Holiest of Holies has been desecrated, when instead of being the centre, the core of where God’s presence is manifested, there is something else that takes place. But we shouldn’t think that this will help us determine when the abomination is. Christ isn’t trying to give us a timeline.

And it’s quite strange that when you actually read from the fathers, what you find when they talk about these passages, they’re very disinterested in trying to put a time on it, trying to do calculations and figure out when the end of the world will be. Instead, they understand that to be about themselves – that they themselves need to be watchful.

St. Gregory the Great says this:

“And let us keep in mind that these present afflictions are as far below the last tribulations, as is the person of the herald below the majesty of the judge he precedes.” 

He is saying that what is happening to us right now is nothing compared to what will be at the end. But then he says: “Reflect with all your mind upon this day”. As in now. Not the end of times, now. “My dearest Brethren.  Remedy what is now defective in your present life.  Amend your ways.  Conquer evil temptations by standing firm against them. Repent with tears of the sins you have committed.  For the more you make ready against the severity of His justice by serving Him in fear, the more serenely shall you behold the Coming of that Eternal Judge.” 

So what he’s saying is, don’t worry about the time course. Don’t worry about when this will be. Worry about you yourself being watchful and ready.

And so when Christ then says to us, “when you see the abomination of desolation,” and especially on Father’s Day, both biological and priestly, we must consider where the abomination of desolation could be. It can be in the altar of the church and can be in the altar of my heart. That’s where the abomination of desolation is. The early church fathers are very clear in the way they interpret scripture. As St. Paul said, “these things happened to them as types and were written for our admonition”. These things were written for me. 

And so then when Christ says, “When you see the abomination of desolation”, He’s saying, look in your hearts and see – the place is called to be the Holiest of Holies, what do you find? What do you see? 

St. Paul tells the Corinthians, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19) That is a very misunderstood passage because people believe it to mean that he’s talking about individuals, and that you shouldn’t harm your body by doing something like smoking, for example. 

But he actually says it in the plural. The word “you” there is in the plural in Greek. He says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God?”

And then Origen, looking at that, says,

“but each of us is a stone of that temple.”

So each of us individuals is a temple. But at the same time, each of us is a stone of the greater Temple of the body of Christ.

And that means, as Christ says to us, when you see the abomination of desolation, flee. Be radical in your action. Don’t tolerate it. We are a temple. We were fashioned by God so that we could be indwelt by him. That we could become a sanctuary of his presence. That on the altar of our hearts, we can offer gifts to him.

And so, if we look at the altar of our hearts, and here I speak more to the Father than anyone else: what is in the altar of your heart? What is in the Holiest of Holies? Look deep within – is there anything there besides Christ?

Any lust, money, pride, ambition, desire, whatever it is – what stands in the altar of your heart?

Christ tells us to take radical action. “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place”(whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.” Flee. Take radical action. Don’t tolerate having the abomination of desolation in your heart, the rightful place of Christ.

And there’s no action more radical than turning to Christ. In Romans 7, St. Paul says:  “I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” He says, When I look at my own heart, that which I don’t want to do, I do. That which I want to do, I can’t do. And therefore I see that there is something in me, I’m being indwelt. He says,  “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?  I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

St. Paul feels as we should all feel: that we are made to be a temple. We are made to be indwelt, but just as we can be indwelt by Christ, we can be indwelt by many other things.

So then, let us look at our hearts, and I speak to myself first – do we not know that we are the temple of God? So how then do we tolerate something to be in the rightful place of Christ in our hearts? How do we tolerate there’s an abomination of desolation, which is anything which takes the place of Christ in the Holiest of Holies? Let us then beg our Lord Jesus Christ, that He is ever present on the altar of our hearts. And as we read in the Matins gospel, and I say to you again, let us be forever watchful that nothing and no one takes the place of Christ in our hearts. And if anything does, we are radical, we flee, we take action. Glory be to God forevermore.

? Full sermon ?

Social Justice: The Secret To A Fulfilled Life

Social Justice: The Secret To A Fulfilled Life

By Dalia Fam

Original post by goCoptic blog site (July 3, 2020)

I have discovered a secret. Throughout our 13 years living in Zambia, we have experienced many short-term mission trips from all over the world. We have witnessed many lives transformed from mission trips. But, when they go back home they lose the same passion they had in Africa. Why? Can you only have zeal for mission in Africa? NO!

Missionaries lose their zeal because, unlike their mission trip, they stop practicing social justice daily.

Social justice is a way of life. It is found in every aspect of our life – from the way we spend, to the way we teach our children, and to the way we prepare our food.

Social Justice includes if we “clothed the naked, given your bread to the hungry, door open to every stranger, been a parent to the orphan, [and] made the suffering of every helpless person your own.” – St. Basil the Great, On Social Justice

Social justice is a mission that every Christian and Church must do, not only in Africa. This blog post will discuss the biblical, patristic and modern-day examples of social justice in our Faith. We pray this inspires you to do social justice as a way of life!

Biblical Understanding of Social Justice

Justice in the Old Testament is a common theme and it forms the basis of God’s holiness. Therefore, when we participate in social justice, we partake of this holiness. The Old Testament also includes many examples, such as Elijah, of faithful men and women who defend the poor and powerless.

The ultimate example of social justice was Jesus Christ. He starts His mission proclaiming His desire to bring justice to those in need and to the oppressed (Isaiah 61:1-2). He helped the destitute, poor, and marginalized. He went out of His way to the outcast woman at the well. He sat with sinners. He taught justice in that whatever we do for the sick, imprisoned, and stranger, we do it for Him.

Even in His death, the cross of Christ reconciled all and was the essence of His declaration of justice. The apostles continued to live out Christ’s mission of social justice through healing the sick, caring for the widows, and sharing their possessions to anyone in need.

St. John taught “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?”  – 1 John 3:17

We should follow these holy examples that lived before us to spur us into social justice action!

Patristic Understanding of Social Justice

The Early Church Fathers knew the importance of the daily spiritual practice of social justice. The closer the Fathers drew to God, the more they loved man and wanted to help those most in need. They knew social justice was not optional but a spiritual practice like praying and fasting. They knew it was the necessary path to true communion with God.  

St. Gregory of Nazianzus, wrote, “As long as there is time, let us visit Christ, serve Christ, feed Christ, clothe Christ, offer hospitality to Christ, honor Christ.”

These teachings guide us to practice social justice daily and should be a way of life.

Examples of Practicing Social Justice

Our Orthodox Church has many modern-day saints and missionaries who set an example for us by practicing social justice. In the fourth century, St. Verena, out of a cave in Switzerland, cared for the lepers. Even under Islamic oppression, Coptic Churches practiced social justice through caring for the orphans, widows, the poor, elderly, and the sick. Eastern Orthodox missionaries such as St. Stephen of Perm, defended Alaskan natives against traders and others that treated them harshly. Bishop Abraam, known as the “Friend of the Poor,” offered shelter, food, clothing and more to the poor. A Greek Orthodox archbishop defied culture and took a risk to stand with Martin Luther King Jr., during the civil rights era.     

Conclusion

The opportunities for social justice are all around us. Not only in Africa. We have to intentionally look for these opportunities. We can care for the forgotten, the outcast, the poor, the elderly, the homeless. Anyone who has no voice. You can be their voice!

For us to be in ultimate communion with God, we need to practice social justice daily! It is the secret of a fulfilled life!

Mission Assignment: Pray and find opportunities around you for practicing social justice as a way of life.

(c) Fr Abraham and Dalia Fam. goCoptic. Original blog found at-https://gocoptic.org/social-justice-the-secret-to-a-fulfilled-life/

Unspeakable Beauty

Unspeakable Beauty

By John

Original post by Becoming Fully Alive blog site (June 25, 2015)

Someone once asked St. Pachomius to tell them of a vision he saw so that they could learn from it.

He replied:

“If you see a humble man with a pure heart, that would be greater than all the visions; because through that vision, you would see the invisible God. Do not ask for a better vision.”

If seeing just one godly man can have such a profound impact on a person, then how glorious would it be to see three godly men living in unbroken communion and mutually offering their lives to Him?

Reading through 1 Samuel, I was awed to read about three such men reflecting the beauty of the Holy Trinity. They are only mentioned in two verses, and to my knowledge they are not mentioned again in the Bible:

“…three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hands.” 1 Samuel 10:3-4

Who Are They?

The first thing that is said about these men is that they are “going up to God at Bethel.”

What a beautiful verse!

How great would it be to be described by nothing else but how focused you were on pursing God? These men were not described by their relationships, their occupation, or even where they came from (which was very traditional in those times) but they were simply described by their pursuit of God.

Bethel, which means house of God, is significant because it was one of the first places where God met with His chosen people. This is actually the same place Jacob dreamed of a ladder reaching to heaven, having angels ascending and descending on it and having the Lord standing above it. (Genesis 28:12-13)

It almost sounds like these three men are on their way to climb this ladder to ‘go up to’ God.

Living in Communion

I can imagine that these men held one another accountable and encouraged each other in Him as they made this journey up to God together. They were not wise in their own eyes and knew the power of having a companion so as not to travel alone (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

Truly did the Psalmist speak of men such as these:

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is or brothers to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1

It also seems as though these men of faith had all things in common. Surely there was one goat and one loaf of bread for each of them rather than one man having three goats and another having three loaves of bread to himself. Each brought what they had and made up for what the other lacked.

Furthermore, they had one spirit as they did anything together; it was never one of them doing an action individually. The following phrase makes this clear: “they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread.” They didn’t live in communion with just themselves, but from their abundance they were able to provide for the for needs of those they came into contact with. They only kept for themselves what they needed.

Thinking about how these men might have greeted those in their path I can only think they were genuine, warm, and heartfelt. They were the type of people to ask you how you were and would actually care to hear your response. They were the type of men that didn’t just say “God bless you” to people without actually being a source of blessing to them (as witnessed by their free gift of bread).

Worshiping in Spirit and Truth

These men were worshiping God the way He intended them to worship Him.

It’s likely that the goats they were taking with them were intended to be sacrificed – one for each of them – as a sin offering:

“or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a male without blemish. And he shall lay his hand on the head of the goat, and kill it at the place where they kill the burnt offering before the Lord. It is a sin offering.” (Leviticus 4:23-24)

They were not only worshipping God in their relationship with one another, with their giving of themselves physically and emotionally to others, but they were also giving God glory by living a life of repentance.

These men remind me of Melchizedek in that they also prophetically brought bread and wine to offer to God as a prefigurement of the Eucharist. They also seem to be “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life” (Hebrews 7:3) but worship God continually.

What beautiful men!

We are all called to be like our Lord, God, Saviour, and King, Jesus Christ.

Along with that though, we are called to live in harmony and communion with one another and to be an icon of the Holy Trinity. It was the unity that these men had that made them special. Their relationship with one another was a reflection of God Himself.

These three men of faith are a beautiful example of perichoresis, which is a term used to describe how the three Persons of the Trinity are One God. Perichoresis is the divine dance of Love where there is a complete and mutual giving and receiving. It involves Persons in harmony having perfect consideration for each other.

Lord, give us to reflect Your unspeakable beauty!

(c) Becoming Fully Alive (2016) Original post – https://becomingfullyalive.com/unspeakable-beauty/

When Will It End?

When Will It End?

Adapted from a sermon by Andrew Bishara

Passage Matthew 24:3-35

The disciples were sitting on the Mount with Christ when they questioned Him… “Lord, tell us, how is the world going to end? I see now that You know all things, You know how the world works. I want You to tell me how the world is going to end. How is it going to end? What are the signals that will happen before the world ends?”

The disciples question Jesus, because like many of us, they do not want to live with uncertainty. Christ responds, “do not be troubled, have peace, but there will be tribulation, much bigger than you can imagine.”

In all of this, have peace. Despite hearing this, it would be very difficult for the disciples to hold their peace. Expect the worst is coming, but have peace. Whilst the gospel seems gloomy, it is quite applicable to many of us.

During my final year of school, I hated more than anything, the uncertainty that was coming. What mark am I going to get? What course am I going to get into? The answer is still the same, “do your best, endure and leave the rest to Me.”

What would have happened if Christ had told the disciples all that was to come? They would’ve done whatever they wanted and fixed their lives at the last moments. This sounds like a great plan for many. We wouldn’t need to worry our entire lives. I can set an alarm for an hour before, and I’ll be fine.

But imagine what would be lost along the way! If I live as if I have all the time in the world, I will surely live to regret the time I wasted.

If Christ gave the disciples that time and they wasted their entire lives up until the last hour, then would they have gained enough virtue, enough wisdom, enough understanding to then enter the kingdom of Heaven?

Many more would be lost if we all knew when the world is ending. Moreover, if I am constantly seeking anxiously when the end will come, I will be unable to sustain virtue along the way.

Christ is telling us to do our best and endure and leave the rest to Him. This applies to every aspect of our lives. It is not uncertainty. He does not present the signs so that we can go out looking for them. These are more or less, natural events that should not matter to us, for as long as we do our due diligence.

All that matters is that I endure, I need to stay close to Christ. I know that I will get the promise at the end of the gospel.

Do not be troubled, no matter where you are in life compared to where you think you should be, it is all part of the plan.

He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other

Matthew 24:31.

If I endure, if I do my best, the angels are coming with the sound of trumpet to deliver me from all my troubles.

We need to keep pushing until we hear the joyous sound of the trumpet.

Full sermon

Fight the Good Fight

Prayer

“The Holy Spirit still speaks in each one of us! The Spirit teaches you how to conduct yourself, how to shake off burdens of your past, how to battle against giants, how to lift up your arms like Moses to defect the enemy; and God will straightway fight for you. I have hope in Jesus Christ that He will render these words useful to you that we might together be able to cross the great chasm that separates the life according to the flesh from the life according to the spirit. I pray that we might pass form authority and pull off the fleshly desires to submit to the tug of the Holy Spirit. And I pray that we might be filled with power and grace and all the gifts that are given us by Christ. Grant us, O Lord, to be victorious by You and to live for You. Amen”

– Extract from “Words For Our Time – The spiritual words of Matthew the Poor”

Fight The Good Fight

Focus Quote

St.Tikhon of Zadonsk was a Russian Orthodox monk who lived in the 18th century (1724-1783). He discusses some practical steps to struggle against sin:

  1. Repent; “Virtue is not true virtue when it is not within the heart. Therefore, correct your heart and your will and you shall be good and your outward deeds will be good, for the inwards is the beginning of the outward”
  2. Listen and obey the word of God
  3. Arm yourself for the battle through prayer
  4. Remember the presence of God
  5. Avoid all occasions that lead to sin
  6. Mediate upon your own death and final judgement

Fight the Good Fight

Readings

New Testament passage

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Discussion Questions

As Christians in a modern world, we consistently find ourselves fighting against the flesh and against the ever-changing social norms, particularly in a society which prides itself on subjective morality. Often in these times, we feel that we are so different from those around us which can make us feel isolated and can make us question whether we want to continue down the narrow path. Yet, we are in a battle in this world – we might not see it and we might forget about it, but it is real and ever present. How do we remind ourselves of spiritual warfare?

What are some struggles we face as Christians in modern day society?

What are some practical ways to overcoming feelings of helplessness in the spiritual struggle?

Another New Testament Passage

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against thewiles of the devil.12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but againstprincipalities, against powers, againstthe rulers of]the darkness of this age, against spiritualhostsof wickedness in the heavenlyplaces.13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstandin the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints

Ephesians 10:9-18

Discussion questions

When St Paul originally wrote this passage, he was using jargon familiar to his audience. What are some modern-day equivalents of the armour of God proposed by St Paul?

How can we utilise each aspect of the armour of God?

Owe it to God

Talents, Blessings and Spiritual Gifts Part 3

Owe it to God

By Ereeny Mikhail

God shows us that the differences in our talents, blessings and spiritual gifts are all puzzle pieces that complete a greater purpose. But before we understand the meaning of all this, let’s explore blessings and spiritual gifts.

Differently to a talent, a blessing (n). is described in the Oxford dictionary, as something that is good or helpful. So, living in a country that is not in a warzone is good, having a roof over our head is good, having decent health is good and so on. Yet, often we feel we are in a shortage when it comes to blessings. Sometimes we wish we had more money or looked a certain way or was doing a certain thing. We work hard to try to apply the secret recipe to increase our blessings and double them but find ourselves still hungry for more.

However, it is important to recognise that although working hard to increase our blessings is important, it is also essential not to get consumed in this. St Paul in Philippians 4:19 states, “God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” If we are applying the secret recipe then we must know that we are not in shortage. God is supplying all our need and we do not need more than this. On the contrary, we should be utilising our blessing for Christ, just as the woman with the two mites did; “but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” (Luke 21:4)

Further to this, it is essential to re-evaluate our standards. There isn’t a level of any vain thing that we need to live up to except our own and Gods. If we do so, then there is nothing we lack.

This means, if God has given us a body and mind in good health, then we must use these to the best of our abilities. But let’s consider that someone may not feel handsome or beautiful because they have gained a significant amount of weight due to overeating which has affected their health. I think then perhaps they must recognise that they are not using their blessing, of good health, that God initially gave them as best they can. Our body and mind are a temple of Christ and we should treat it as such. “…he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” (II Timothy 2:21) If we do not feel that we are doing enough with the blessings God has bestowed on us, including taking care of our ‘sound mind’ and body, then we must. This is His vessel that we must make useful and prepare it for His good work. If we are doing so, then there is no more we need. There is no other standard we need to live up to.

Contrastingly, a spiritual gift is often differentiated from talents and blessings, as they are given to those who accept and believe in Christ. It is made for the “edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). Though, it is important to note that talents and blessings, can be used as spiritual gifts.

This differentiation lays in the fact that the spiritual gift can be lost. The talent remains, but it cannot used for edification if it is degraded. St Paul states in Romans 12:4-8 “For as we having many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts different according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them; if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” Each of our spiritual gifts is different and useful and all for the purpose of ‘edifying’ the body of Christ. There is no one better or worse than the other. Thus, let us keep these spiritual gifts by recognising this.

What is the meaning of all this? Talents? Blessings? Spiritual Gifts? St Paul tells us in I Corinthians 12:14-20: “For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.” If we all had the same talents, blessings and spiritual gifts we could not function. Imagine saying, the architect is more important than the builder. So, if we were all architects, then who would build the house? Or what if we said being a good speaker is more important than being a good listener. Then who would be listening to us when we speak? Every talent, blessing, and spiritual gift is important to complete the cycle of life. It is all important for the greater purpose, that is Christ.

Conclusively, we need to remember that we are all clay in the Hands of the Potter, moulded for His use. Let us acknowledge that:

“Our gifts and talents should also be turned over to Him. They should be recognized for what they are, God’s loan to us, and should never be considered in any sense our own. We have no more right to claim credit for special abilities than for blue eyes or strong muscles. ‘For who makes you different from another? And what have you that you did not receive?’”

A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

The Secret Recipe

Talents, Blessings and Spiritual Gifts Part 2

The Secret Recipe

By Ereeny Mikhail

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man travelling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them and made another five talents. And likewise, he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground and hid his lord’s money.” 

Matthew 25:14-18

Three particular things strike me about this parable.

The first thing is the fact that they ALL received talents. He did not leave one of them with nothing. So, I think when we state that we have no talents, we are offending God. We are acting as that foolish servant who claims God to be a ‘hard man’. God gave us each according to our own ability.

Secondly, the way the servants and lord reacted to the number of talents is so important. The servant with two talents did not look at his neighbour with five talents and think about how much more than him he had. He focused on himself and went and made two more. And as we know later in the parable, the lord of the servants rewards the servant who doubled his five talents into ten, and the servant who doubled his two talents into four, equally. And the servant with the one talent ends up with nothing and is cast out. The significant thing to take from this is the lord did not look at the servants and think he only has four and the other has ten. The number of talents is not what we should be looking at and it is not how God will judge us in the coming days. Rather, it is how we utilised the talents he gave us.

Now let’s twist the story a little bit. Imagine if the servant who didn’t use his talents was the one with the five talents. And the servants who doubled their talents were the ones with the two and the one talent. The master of the house would have reacted the exact same. The servant with the five talents would have been cast out. It is in fact better for someone to have one talent but to use it and increase it than to have five talents and use none of them at all and waste them.

Finally, another message we can take from this parable is, exploration or investment. The servants with the five and two talents did not just get excited and think about how much they had. They chose to act wisely and put in the effort to increase their talents.

Think about it as an investment of money in the bank. You place the money there and over time it continues to increase. You act wisely with what you have, rather than just celebrate your talents.

More importantly, the effort these two servants put in is essential. They went and actually explored how to increase their talents. So perhaps your talents are sport and being a good speaker. This does not mean you settle for the two talents and thank God only. It is fundamental that you find ways to use these talents in more than just the one way. I think about the sportsmen or sportswomen who sign the cross before a game. This must spread waves into the world. Maybe that day someone will pray for the first time in a long time. Or if you are a good speaker, don’t just use it for your job. Use it to speak at your church or preach the name of the Lord to others. Perhaps if you feel you cannot expand on these talents, then it is essential to explore yourself more and find more talents in order to increase what the Lord gave you.

We must realise talents come in different forms. We must recognise the talents God has given us and not disregard them. We must always ensure that we do not compare our talents to others. We must ensure that we explore these talents and invest in them. This is the secret recipe to all talents, blessings and spiritual gifts.