DISCOVER, NURTURE, SHARE

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

I enjoy watching talent search programs in television like The Voice Philippines, Talentadong Pinoy and the like. I enjoy seeing contestants showcasing their varied and distinct talents in front of their audience. And it gives me more joy whenever the contestants make the judges and the audience stand from their seats to clap and shout for joy. It really gives me a lot of joy.

If one has a talent or even a skill worth performing and watching, he must have the courage and confidence to showcase it to other people. Talents are blessings given by God to His children to be discovered, nurtured and shared. Every one of us has a talent to be discovered. We just have to find them within ourselves, within our hearts. Age and status in life do not really matter. As we discover these God-given talents in us, we are also being challenged to improve and nourish them. They are something God wants us to develop and later, to share.
 

Our talents are always directed for the good and happiness of others and for the glorification of the Lord. They are God’s blessing for us, more so for others. Be confident to discover, nurture and share your talent.

“But who do you say that I am?”

There is no question as to how God loves humankind. Just reflect on the five sorrowful mysteries. Imagine, in spite of His being the Son of God, Je­sus still chose to be scourged, crowned with thorns, carry a heavy wooden cross and even undergo the most humiliating punishment imposed on a criminal during His earthly life – Crucifixion!

That is God’s love for us. That portrays Jesus’ rela­tionship to us – “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend!”

But who is Jesus to us? Who do you say that He is? In reality, the way we look at or re­gard Him reflects how we relate with Him. Is He a punishing God who scolds us whenever we commit mistakes? Or is He a friend who extends a hand whenever we fall down and tells us that all shall be well especial­ly in times of trouble?

Jesus would like to know: “But who do you say that I am?”