According to each one's ability

     The parable of the talents in today's gospel is a great stewardship lesson.  The servants are entrusted with their master's possessions as he leaves on a journey.  Each is given a portion.  Upon his return, the master settles accounts, praising the faithfulness and resourcefulness of each until he arrives at the one given the least portion.  This one went off and buried his talent in the ground, so that he would be "safe" and able to return "unharmed" what was given him.

    But the master's anger toward this third servant is extreme.  He is angry because he did nothing, he made no effort to improve or use what was given him.  He is thrown out into the darkness.  It almost seems a bit unfair ... after all, the servant was being prudent.  Maybe he did not have the expertise to increase the yield. 

     The problem lies in the fact that the master knew whatever limitations this person had, and he entrusted his possessions "to each according to his ability".  To do nothing was not acceptable to the master, for he expected some return on his trust and investment, and he knew that this servant could deliver.

     We have been gifted by God in so many ways, according to our abilities, and the giftedness was not made so that we could become rich or hoard what we have, but rather so that the gifts may be used for the good of others and the glory of God.  Is God expecting too much from us?  Will we be praised by the Master upon his return, or thrown out into the darkness?  It depends upon us.

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     Last evening at Mass I welcomed MICHAEL RYEN YANIGA into the Church through baptism.  He was so attentive to everything that I was saying (it must be the mesmerizing voice) that it appeared that he understood.  It was a great celebration with family and friends and the community.

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       Later last evening I attended a fundraising dinner for Saint Anne Home in Greensburg, an entity that provides quality service and ministry to the sick and the elderly.  The Harvest Festival dinner has been an annual event for the past fifteen years, and along with great people, a delicious meal, opportunities to spend money through auctions and raffles and things, it is a wonderful evening.  Of course I did not win anything, except for the enjoyment of the time spent and the support of the cause.  Saint Anne Home was founded by and is supported by the Felician Sisters.  They are good friends.

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     And lastly, today on the Church calendar is the feast of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (Mother Cabrini) who came to this country from Italy to minister to Italian immigrants.  She did so in New York and Chicago and elsewhere.  She is the first declared a saint from the United States, having become a naturalized American citizen.

     I mention her because the story goes that in her travels through this area, she had spent the night at the Convent of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill located at Saint John the Baptist parish in Scottdale.  The Convent has long ago been torn down and the new church built on its place.  Having been pastor there, I would point out the approximate place in the back of the church where a saint had slept.  We in this part of the country have a saying that "Washington (George) slept here" [he traveled extensively in Western PA].  In Scottdale they can also say that "a saint slept here", much more of a rarity than George's claim to fame.