The King's Hands

THE KING'S HANDS

He came not to sit at the tables of the rich and take in it all

but to serve the lepers, the unsightly, those of stature so small

His food feeds the homeless, the sick, and deprived

A king who sits with the poor the lame, and those recently arrived

A king who treats each  with loving hands extended

No harsh words, no banishments, no life upended 

No scepter, no sword, no soldiers no unjust decrees

But with a loving spirit as a breeze would blow through the trees

So take a moment and extend your blessed hands

Grow his kingdom to those in near and faraway lands

Bring in those lost, broken, and hungry

Gather them for all to see

His Kingdom is here for eternity

© 2017 Christian Miraglia

Who Has Talent?

YOU WANT TALENT, WE HAVE IT!

Do a Google search and see how many talent shows now appear on television.  There seems to be an endless stream of them. I counted twenty-five. Some have come and gone and others continue to grace the televisions of audiences weekly. American Idol, America has Talent, The Voice, Dancing with the Stars are to name a few. It is not just in our nation, but in also in Europe and Asia where one can see spinoffs of shows whose origin is from Great Britain or from the United States. Some of these shows have some dreadful performances from contestants that leave one cringing, other performers go on to larger audiences as musical stars.  So what is is our infatuation with these shows? Is there true talent or is it just for entertainment, ridicule and laughs?

THE ULTIMATE TALENT SHOW

Let's think for a moment of the ultimate game show with Jesus as host. It is appropriately named as well Who has Talent. Jesus solicits members of the audience to come demonstrate their talents. The key to winning this game is to able to quickly find the talent that corresponds with a scenario that we were faced with during our time on earth. Everyone is a contestant. Winners move to the next level, heaven, losers, well let's just say they don't go to heaven.

The game begins with the first contestant. Mind you this game is not about beauty, wealth, or other fleeting gifts, it is about what is in the hear. Jesus produces a situation in which a homeless person is the off ramp with a sign that says homeless in need of food. He asks the contestant, "What will you do?" The contestant stammers and fumbles around. "Donate to a homeless organization!" Jesus responds, "In as much as that sounds good it is an incorrect answer. Please exit to the door on the left."

The second contestant enters the stage. Jesus produces a scenario where a person approaches the contestant and states, " I am cold, do have anything that can help me through the night?" The contestant instantly takes their jacket and gives it to the person. Jesus proclaims, "Well done, my good and faithful servant, I will give you great responsibilities. Please continue on." The contestant is then faced with a difficult person in a shopping line in front of them who is loud and complaining about everything. The contestant pauses for a moment, prays for the person and offers to help them with paying for part of their groceries. The angry person in voice that the whole store can hear says, "I don't need help from anyone and certainly from you!" The contestant responds, "God bless your day." Jesus, without losing a moment, states, "You truly have a house in my kingdom. Please exit on the right.  The audience applauds as the game continues on with next contestant.

We are participants in the talent show. We are asked to use our God-given talents daily although sometimes we are not sure if we have anything to offer. Dig deep, pray, reflect. I have over the years found that I have much more than I ever thought I could offer. For me it comes down to living in the light. In the light I can find my talents much easier than living in the dark where due to my self-centeredness I am blinded not only to the needs of others, but also to fact that I may have the ability to help with a talent and not realize it.  I would like to think that I could be a winner on this show, but depends on me.

Talent Search

GOD TALENTS VERSUS SOCIETY'S TALENTS

Pope Francis alludes to the word talent not necessarily as an individual quality as performing well academically or as an athlete, finding the blessings of the Lord and then using them to promote the betterment of the kingdom (Magnificat Vol 19 pg 284). This definition is one that conflicts with our society that focuses on the concept of individual achievement.  I myself  like to think that I am talented in certain areas such as leadership, teaching, and some minimal athletic skills. To these I have not given much thought about how these talents are not based on my prowess as a person, but actually graced by God.

Much of my adulthood has been spent on developing my talents for my own recognition especially in the area of my profession, teaching. I have been honored for my abilities and skills, but I never really spent much time on how I can become a better teacher in order to increase God's kingdom here on earth.  However, slowly and gradually, much like the sloth in the recent GEICO commercial who draws a straight line on a paper, I have realized that my profession is not just about the talent of teaching, but I can bring the love of Christ to others as well in various encounters throughout the day.

VISIBLE TALENTS

For the last few years I have heard and read the statement,  "can you be identified as Catholic?" I would like to think that the blessing of my faith is also a talent. Certainly most of my students know my faith identification because we share things in common such as similar faith traditions, the sacraments and other customs. "Oh I know he is Catholic because he goes to this church or he talked about Ash Wednesday," might be a common response. Identification itself is not a talent though. Truly using the gifts that I have discovered in my latter years such as compassion, forgiveness, and mercy is what I would like to think as using my God talents.

By relying on only what is visible and is identifiable to others I am no different to the servant that buries his talent in the ground. I do not search but become complacent in what I have.  This in itself is a real danger as I become blinded to the opportunities to serve others thus shut out the kingdom of God. Sometimes what I see as talent is more of a delusion of grandeur as I think I am serving God, but upon reflection when the opportunity seems to have failed I can see that it was not about me, but about serving others even for short while and developing long lasting friendships.

DIGGING 

Jesus said "for 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." (MT 25:29)It is important to distinguish that this is not about material riches as we are bombarded by the pre-Thanksgiving ads for Christmas, but for the spiritual gifts. Discovering them or better said allowing God to reveal them might require some digging in our own histories to discard that which has prevented us finding them. Getting rid of those unnecessary burdens which might have weighted us down, and shoveling the dirt off of us so we can experience the light of Christ can then reveal those talents which are truly God-given.  Approaching Advent is a opportune time to find those hidden treasures that have been buried, but are awaiting to be used. For me this means spending time prayer to dig and shovel off that which is preventing me to fully use my talents.

Entirely Catholic

CARRYING ON THE FAITH

What a gift to see the young communicants being presented at Mass today and taking their vows. My first thought though is we will see them after First Communion with their families. Anecdotally speaking there seems to be a decline in commitment to continue with the sacraments or at least Mass attendance. Our church today was burgeoning at the seams as the missals were taken up and communion line was exceptionally long.  The question remains will the parents continue with their duty to raise their children with the teachings of the Mother Church? But what about today's Gospel message? Will we as individual Catholics be identified more than in just name, but by our actions?

FAITH AT ALL COSTS

Today our celebrant spoke of people who lived out their faith despite the costs. He mentioned those who died during the Spanish Civil War who are up for beatification.  His reference was to the of the Holy Order of Vincentians but also those citizens who died during the conflict, some as young as a year old. The postulator, Sr Angeles Infante stated in the article published by the Catholic World Report, “It‘s not a violent death that makes you a martyr, but the cause you die for, which is Christ. They gave their lives for God, embodying the faith through their witness, forgiving and asking their families to forgive.” 

This week I heard another heartwarming story of a priest is truly is living out his faith. The story coming from the Seize the Day show hosted by Gus Lloyd on the Catholic Channel of Sirius XM radio highlighted a priest who would frequent a food court in a local mall and approach people asking them if he could pray for a particular petition as he carried his Rosary. If the person allowed for him, he then would pray a Hail Mary in their presence. 

LIVING THE FAITH DAILY

All of this provoked me to think, "Can I be truly identified as a Catholic, more than in just name?" In another words am I entirely Catholic? Initially, the answer is yes. I attend Sunday Mass and at times if I am able to daily Mass. I make sure I attend Mass on Holy Days of Obligation. I go to confession four times a year and make an effort to complete an examination of conscience nightly.  I have a prayer and meditation time early every morning. These are things that visible for those people close to me, that is the easy part. I can't rest on my identity as a Catholic like the scribes and the Pharisees (MT 23:1). My actions must extend beyond my label.

Here is the real challenge for me. Am I Catholic as I navigate the congested freeways of Southern California on my daily commute to work? Of course the answer is yes as I listen to Catholic Channel. But wait a minute I approach a driver who is on their cell phone moving across the divided line that divides the lanes. Or a car that is exceeding the speed limit rapidly approaches behind me than suddenly swerves into the lane next to me as the driver seemingly clueless hurdles down the freeway. What is my response? Well, put it this way I won't put it into words. However a prayer for the safety of these drivers might be the right approach.

Arriving at work I need to make copies for my classes and our every so reliable copy machine is down on a Monday again. This is only the 50th time in the last three years that this has happened. What is my first response? Catholic or not? Once again no words need to be mentioned. As my co-workers come by and see me on my knees (no I am not praying) pulling out the innards of the machine to retrieve a crumbled up paper do they hear silence or do they hear the copy machine litany which cannot be printed here? 

I am challenged daily by interactions with people both young and old as well. Is my reaction Catholic? Do I pray for patience with difficult situations or do I force my will? This is all so quite difficult especially when it relates to Church teaching on controversial issues.  My hope is that I have the courage to voice my beliefs no matter what the cost even when it is not convenient. How I approach the poor, marginalized and powerless as well is another daily challenge. 

THE CHALLENGE

But I am asked to truly live out my faith. I am not perfect, but knowing that is quite liberating as long as am connected to God. So here is my readers challenge. Take one day and see how you are able to live out your faith. You might surprise yourself and find that you are living example of true Catholic and at the same time you might find that you have some areas that need some work. I know that I have and will continue to do so.  I am reassured that many who have gone before me have done the same. As our celebrant reminded us today as he told the congregation about the sparse crowd during All Saints Day Mass due to the Dodgers playing in the World Series, we are called to be saints and to put our faith first and the rest will follow.