Monday 9th week in ordinary time
"Mk 12:1-12"
And he began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard... And he sent another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and some they killed."
These people had been given a vineyard and everything that they needed to produce fruit: vines, hedge, wine press, tower... It was not their property, but they decided to keep the vineyard for themselves instead of handing over the fruit to their master. They were entrusted with something that wasn't theirs, but they killed the heir and tried to keep the property. In the end, they are left with nothing but guilt; the owner gets rid of them and gives their job to others. Like the tenants, God has given us a job to do and the talents to do it. And we too can be tempted to try to use our talents as our own property and collect their fruit for ourselves.
In 1723 a brilliant lawyer was defending his client in the court of Naples. He was an intelligent young fellow with two PhDs, knowledge of several languages, talent in music, arts and politics and a very successful career in law. In 8 years he hadn't lost a single trial. On this occasion he was defending Dr Orsini and made a skilful exposition of his client's innocence. He thought he had already won the case when the prosecution counsel produced a document that destroyed all his arguments. He had been fooled by his client. He was deeply humiliated and admitted his mistake.
But later he thought about his life: he had been putting all his talents into defending wrong causes. After a long discernment, in 1726, at the age of 30 he was ordained a priest. Eventually he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) and devoted his talents to preaching and teaching, writing more than 100 books. St Alphonse of Liguori is today a Doctor of the Church. He certainly had talents. And God knew well what they were for.
Our Lady, Mother of Good Counsel, help me to put my talents at Our Lord's disposal and discern His plan for me.
