Making a lasting difference
All my life I have been blessed to be surrounded by strong, caring and understanding women. Growing up with four sisters and a mum, I got to experience first-hand what sacrificial love was all about. My mum and sisters supported and loved me despite my failings and general stubbornness. Some may say I was spoiled; I like to believe that I was blessed. As an adult man, with a wife and two daughters I continue to experience a similar kind of love that helps ground me but is also very supportive and caring.
Our first reading today from the Book of Proverbs beautifully describes the role and talents of women and how they use it to benefit others. Other than confirming that women have always been able to multi-task, these are just a few of the talents that a woman has and which she uses in the service of others.
There are many such women in our Parish who share their talents not only for the good of fellow Parishioners but ultimately in praise of God. There is Debbie who has and continues to provide leadership to our Parish during these difficult times, Sr Marie, who works tirelessly in helping us grow in our faith be it through prayer or music, Sadie who has embraced her role as our Liturgy Group Chairperson, Geraldine and her group of volunteers who put on a bake sale every month, Noeline and Trish who work in the background on all the other fundraising and community functions and Jane, who just keeps giving of her professional skills, sharing her liturgical experiences and anything else she is called upon to do. These are but a few of the women in our Parish who use their talents to do the work of God.
Our Gospel reading invites us to reflect on how we use our talents do we use it wisely to grow or do we hide it from the world? Like the servants in the Gospel, each one of us will be called upon to account for what we have done with our gifts. We can choose to hold on to our talents or instead see these talents as something given to us to share with others and in so doing allow others to grow as well as ourselves.
My mum never completed her schooling, nor did she have paid job for all of her married life. So, some may say that she had no talents to share with the world. As a young boy who spent five months in hospital, she visited me every day without fail, using public transport or any means possible. Her talent was simply empathy and sacrificial love. There is no greater talent.
So today, we thank God for the women in our lives, especially the one who gave us life and who played such an important role in making us who we are today.
Clint Ramoo
