After a long time the master of those servants came back

16 NOVEMBER (Mt 25,14-30)

We all live in illusion. The Ecclesiastes tells us that this happens because of a non immediate judgment of God on our actions. Everyone thinks that one must never give an account of anything and he continues to sin. Instead, the judgment day always comes. We do not know the day, but itcertainly will come. If it is not today, it will be tomorrow, but it will not tarry. Even in history the Lord comes to judge the man.

All these things I considered and I applied my mind to every work that is done under the sun, while one man tyrannizes over another to his hurt. Meanwhile I saw wicked men approach and enter; and as they left the sacred place, they were praised in the city for what they had done. This also is vanity. Because the sentence against evildoers is not promptly executed, therefore the hearts of men are filled with the desire to commit evil –  because the sinner does evil a hundred times and survives. Though indeed I know that it shall be well with those who fear God, for their reverence toward him; and that it shall not be well with the wicked man, and he shall not prolong his shadowy days, for his lack of reverence toward God. This is a vanity which occurs on earth: there are just men treated as though they had done evil and wicked men treated as though they had done justly. This, too, I say is vanity (Eccl 8,9-14).  

The Lord comes back, he always does. To Him we must account for everything, even a morsel of bread we have not served ourselves of in accordance with the truth. Of every gift, every grace, every charisma, every talent we must give account. He gives us all so that we put it to good use to producea greater good for our brothers. We are His providence towards all of mankind. Everyone of us is a gift of God for the brothers. This is the truth of the gifts and charismas. They are given for the common good. For this reason they must be lived.

“It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one – to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ (Then) the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’

It is urgent that we all put this faith in our hearts. The Lord will come. He will demand me an account of every minute experienced in my life. Not one will be passed over in silence. In his book, everything is written of me, even the idle, vain words, of mending of the Gospel, of subversion of the truth, of laziness, sloth and superficiality. He will ask me an account of every holy, less holy gesture, of grace or sin, of commitment or great indolence. I will even be questioned on the thoughts. I could have thought well and instead I thought wrong. I could have produced finer things, but I was in mediocrity. Of my whole body I will have to give him account, other than my spirit and my soul. If I have been exemplary in everything, or I used it to produce only scandals and iniquities. The body is also subject to the law of the gift.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints give us this most pure faith.