One Soul

Part of the lyrics of a song written by a very popular Filipino singer goes:

“We still carry it bright the hope and the light bannering the shield of green and white.
And we will carry it on just as we’ve always believed from the start.
We can build up each other and together move on Even if we just light one soul
We’ve won.”

To put into context, Gary Valenciano wrote “We’ve Won” for his school’s alumni homecoming in 2007. He said, “We used it to try and encourage others, that, when you go out into the world, and you light even one soul, you reignite something in yourself, and you ignite something in somebody else’s life, and basically, you’ve won, no matter what.”

This week’s Gospel invites us to see our lives as entrusted gifts for faithful use, not merely for private possession. Pope Francis said, “We have received from the Lord the gift of his love and we are called to become a gift for others.”

The servants were not given identical responsibilities. “To each according to his ability.” We are invited to act in trust and to begin with what has been entrusted to us. Instead of asking only, “What am I good at?” we might instead ask, “What has been placed in my care, and how can it serve God and my neighbour?”

The first two servants each faithfully used what they were given, and each received the same commendation. Faithfulness – not comparison or equal achievement. The third was led by fear to do nothing with what had been entrusted to him. Fear can take familiar forms: “I’m not capable,” “Someone else will do it,” “I might fail,” or “My contribution is too small to matter.” Pope Francis warns that when people are “paralysed by fear”, they can become disengaged, keeping their gifts for themselves.

The results of the two faithful servants differ in amount, but both received the same praise: “Well done, good and trustworthy servant”. Measure fruit by love. Let us not measure ourselves against another person’s success, influence, or workload. Faithfulness bears fruit that is often unseen.

“With Jesus’ light here to guide us, even if we just light one soul, we’ve won.”

Lord Jesus, thank you for the gifts and opportunities you have entrusted to me. Free me from fear, comparison, and indifference. Help me recognise one gift I can offer today and teach me to use it faithfully for the good of others. Amen.

Blessed Sunday to all
Randy Reyes

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