16th Sunday after Pentecost, Octoechos Tone 7; Our Venerable Father Cyriacus the Anchorite (c. 448-556)
Read
2 Corinthians 6:1-10; Matthew 25:14-30
Have you ever thought that all things tend to spoil if they are not used? Some the more common things that come to mind are milk, lettuce, tomatoes (and all fresh produce), luncheon meats (even with the added preservatives), etc. There are also other things of this world that spoil if not used – a car sitting in a garage for a long time, a house that has no one living it, a book sitting on the shelf in the sunlight, etc. Have you ever considered that our gifts and talents will spoil if we don’t use them? It seems clear in the parable we hear today that we either use our talents or lose them.
One of the greatest gifts that each of us had is the ability to love. We can love because we have first been loved by the Lord (see 1 John 4:19). But if we don’t use that love, if we don’t give love, we can lose it. If we do love others, especially our neighbours who do not necessarily love us, then that love is multiplied. When we love, we become a fountain of divine Love to others. Let’s not hide love from each other but give it freely!