Tag: love

The Gift of Life: Lessons from the Parable of the Talents

The Parable of the Talents says it all.

I am almost never surprised at how dim-witted I am at times. I hear something over and over again, yet I don’t understand all the nuances and meanings. Maybe I am not slow; perhaps it is the human part of maturing. It takes a significant amount of time to remove the noise of the world from your life to focus on the truth of our reality.

I go to Mass on a nearly daily basis. I hear and read the daily readings. One particular reading that struck me recently, though it has always been meaningful to me, was the parable of the talents. Why is it that at this particular time in my life I find it has deeper meaning?

It is and will always be difficult for us to quiet our minds during prayer or for any other reason. Our minds are always racing to the next thing. So, sitting in the pews, listening to the word of God each day, helps me center my life and soul to try to do His will. Though I often fail, this is always my goal.

It hit me during the reading of this parable: it is not just about the talents, but about us in our entirety. Each individual human being has been given the gift of life. With that gift, we have been given a certain set of skills and abilities to create for the betterment of life, not only for ourselves but for those around us. We do not exist solely for our own purpose; that is what the devil sows, leading to discontent and misery. In saying this, I am trying to clarify that we must always do good for our neighbor and also care for what God has given us, to nurture and grow in and for the world.

In the commandment to love your neighbor lies the most important key to finding happiness and joy in this life. Why is it that the two first and most important commandments also point to the exact same thing?

The first commandment, love the Lord your God above everyone and everything, is so simple, yet most people can’t grasp its meaning. This command helps us order ourselves correctly. We didn’t create ourselves, and we cannot create life. We didn’t create the gifts we have. In fact, we are merely receivers of all these gifts, and because of this, we need to approach all things with humility, always acknowledging that we are merely stewards.

It is much like when we get a new car: we drive it and care for it. We may even love it in the sense marveling at this creation that others were able to produce. But we don’t run around acting like we created the car or that we are better than those who created it because we added a more expensive set of tires or a better sound system. The reality is the vehicle is a gift, and of course, we can improve it if we have been given the gifts and ability to do so. But we are never truly the originators, the foundation; we are merely stewards.

Sadly, rejecting the gifts we’ve been given distorts reality. Our self-centered society, envious of creation, often denies our true nature and purpose. This rejection of what is good and beautiful, favoring destruction over creation, is the essence of horror. It’s why so many people suffer from sadness, depression, and emptiness, trapped in a void where nothing fulfills its purpose, leading to a deep sense of despair. Some even harm their own bodies, turning what may begin as adornment into excessive defacement, such as through extreme tattooing, thus dishonoring the gift of their physical form.

We must accept the gifts we have been given in all their simplicity. These are our unique and truly individual talents. Accepting the responsibility of stewardship means not only caring for our own talents and gifts but also caring for those of our neighbors. It has become clear to me in my maturing that our lives are finite. We have all been given a canvas on which we can create a beautiful painting of our lives. Yes, we will make mistakes, and there will be struggles, but you can paint beautifully with crooked lines when you do it with goodwill and love for others. The vision and goal are to create something beautiful with the talents you have been given.

As I have progressed in my life, I have noticed that the more I do for others, the more I am able to grow and improve as a person. I hold nothing back from anyone. I share all of my knowledge and teach the next generation, not solely in my areas of expertise but, more importantly, through the application of my talents to help others grow. I look at the world as God’s vineyard, and I am but one of many persons tending to creation. The others alongside me will learn and grow with my help. I must decrease as they increase, and so is life.

Hence, the parable of the talents is all about what I have shared here. It is about you and me. It is not about making money or having successes. It is about helping to expand creation through the gifts the good Lord has given us. Loving, caring, and sharing with humility are the seeds of our participation in creation.

Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, 14-30

The Parable of the Talents.

c “It will be as when a man who was going on a journey* called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.

To one he gave five talents;* to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately

the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five.

Likewise, the one who received two made another two.

* But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.

The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five.* He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’

d His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

[Then] the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’

His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter;

so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’

His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!* So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter?

Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?

Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.

* e For to 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.

* And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’

In Memory of My Mom

My mother, Virginia, was unconventional. She began her journey as a mother and launched her career in translation and interpreting successfully, while already having six children. To top it off, she got her high school and college diplomas during the same time period. She did have a great head start from the excellent education she received at St. George in Havana, Cuba, where she gained her strong prowess in the English language.

But what drove her to excellence was her joy for life. She knew that life is the greatest gift one has. She received from our grandmother, Concha, an understanding of how precious life is, as her mother wanted so much to have a child and took the risk of her life to bring a baby into the world. That baby was my Mami. This was something indelibly impressed upon her mind and soul.

She knew her mother had wanted to have many children but could not. But her extended family was large, and she quickly became close to her two cousins, Albertico and Bebo. To us, her children, they were our uncles. Whenever they came by, you could always see the joy in my mother’s face. She knew the happiness of family, and that is why she was determined to have a large one.

She got what she wanted and both the fun and the headaches that came with it. I remember my mother typing a book report for my brother Javier in high school in the morning before the bus came! Or when she made me and Javier walk to our high school in the snow because we purposely missed the bus. She was also always there for all of us with our illnesses, taking us to the doctor and making sure we got better and the right care. She read up on everything, and this was before the internet; she spent hours at the library doing research. Often, she knew more than the doctors about what ailed us!

She also had her very private side that only family knew: that she was deeply religious. She had a deep devotion to St. Jude Thaddeus and our holy mother, Mary. I know this because, having spent much time living at my mom’s house, as my wife and I jokingly called “Our Weekend Residence,” I was able to actually get to know her so much better.

She would say prayers every morning, thanking God for the gift of another day and the lack of pain she had from her various cancers. In the evening, she would pray to God, often asking help from the saints, for forgiveness for her sins and for one more day to enjoy the gift that is life itself.

She confided in me that it hurt her deeply, the mistakes she had made in handling certain family matters that later caused problems. She felt she tried her best to make things right and had decided this was of considerable concern, so she added it to her daily prayers. She had great hope that the love of Jesus Christ would come down on the hearts of those affected and heal all wounds.

My mom was a wonderful person; she had great loves, great friends, a huge and happy family. She traveled the world and loved her career, living this earthly life to the fullest. “No one is good but God alone,” as Jesus said, and my mom knew it, and we all should accept this truth that few of us are saints.

In her last hours on her deathbed, she frequently raised her hand and made the sign of the cross, blessing herself. Then, I am told by Rebecca and Donna that she said in her last hour of life, as if to someone, “I know, I am sorry.” This to me is a sign of her humility and love. And there is no greater gift that she could have given me than this example of loving repentance as she was dying. I pray that we can all come to the humility of asking forgiveness and granting it, which is the Christian way.

For this reason, I ask everyone to always remember her in your prayers, and when she gets into heaven, she will remember us as well.

A Mother’s Heart

When times are tough

And you are alone

Your mother’s heart

Will be your home

When life is bright

And you wish to share

Your mother’s eyes

Will still be there

When seasons change

And the wind blows high

You’ll hear her laughter

Floating nigh

When the Lord calls you

To leave this land

It’s your mom

Who’ll be there

To take your hand

Legacy

Busy work,

Demands of Time

Delusions of purpose

Lacks all rhyme

Death’s door

Is always near

Many say

A thing to fear

Work and play

Life’s diversions

Play a small part

In the heart’s true conversion

Giving and caring

All for others

The tool for growth

As known by mothers

Then only key

for eternal life

That brings forth

The one true light

The light that

Touches all around

Creates true love

That will abound

When death and decay

The body sees

Those left behind

Life’s lights are still seen

When death and decay

The body sees

Those left behind

Life’s lights are still seen

Don’t fret

On the world’s

Demands infernal

Only your love

Will last

Which is eternal

Family Man

A Country Song in My Mind

I literally woke up with this song on my mind. Now I got to get someone to put this to music.

Refrain

Family Man

I’m getting close to home,

I don’t want to be late.

I pray to the Lord Jesus

I get home by eight.

My five little children

I’m missing so much.

But most of all,

I miss my wife’s sweet touch.

It’s been a few weeks.

I’ve been on the road.

Crossing these highways

With a massive load.

It’s the nasty weather,

That makes me recall,

My Lord’s got this,

I ain’t in control

Refrain

At the truck stop

Feeling lonely and strange

Eating my beans

Playing with the food on my plate

A nice little woman

Comes by and says to me hey,

I make the cross on my heart

And tell her about my girl Kate.

Refrain

Well, Kate’s, sweet and strong.

And loves me so much.

She wants to have babies,

Because it’s God’s sweet touch

That brings us both closer,

To the eternal one

Plus, the act of creation,

Sure is fun!

 Refrain

I get some time,

Between the long trips

We thank the Lord,

For all our great gifts.

Our home, our food

And the holiday trips

I say my prayers,

In my room all alone.

It’s Kate and the kids

That bring me all my joy.

I could’ve been a rock star.

That ain’t no matter

‘Cause I’d rather have this.

Refrain

All Creation is Shouting for Joy!

Revelations from Nature

I went for a nice long walk in Echo Lake Park in Mountainside, NJ. It was an atypical Sunday in February. It was not below freezing and with the sun it actually was quite comfortable. I had my binoculars with me, as any avid birder would on any walk. The day was bountiful with birds. I spotted over twenty species, which is a huge accomplishment in the winter.

Then I strolled over to the connecting Lenape Park. On the path that leads to the pond there used to be a garden nursery. Sadly, as the community progressed things changed and the property was sold. Now there is what appears to be a massive luxury apartment building complex under construction. To be fair, they are close enough to the park where they will surely be required to plant trees and shrubbery to keep with the setting and this will create homes for the wildlife that as of this time have been displaced.  Hence, it was not as lovely as usual but will be once again.

As I reached the pond, there were two county police officers in their cruiser, I assume taking a break. Reaching the edge of the pond itself another birder came up and greeted me. He had all the gear including an expensive camera with a telephoto lens. I had done the photography thing for a few years but tired of it interfering with my appreciation of nature. Anyway, he told me he had been watching a Pileated Woodpecker over at yonder tree. He also told me of teenagers dumping the picknick tables into the pond. He decided to go to speak with the police about the issue while I went to explore the trees and hopefully see the same woodpecker.

Looking up at two trees, not sure which was the one he had been directing me to. I noticed the birds had gotten eerily quiet; I could only hear bird song in the distance. To my amazement, I spotted a Red-Tailed Hawk up on the top of a tree eating its prey. I couldn’t make out whether it was eating a small bird or a mouse. Either way it was having its fill, and I had now had an exceptionally wonderful experience on this walk.

I was due home to bring my wife, breakfast and then get ready to get to church in time. I quickly left the pond and informed the birder-photographer who was more excited about my find than he had appeared to be of the woodpecker and went running to try to get a picture, he was very grateful.

Some people do not understand this hobby and I guess people may have different reasons for doing it. But my reason is quite simple and after leaving Lenape Park while headed back to my car that was parked at Echo Lake it just jumped out of my mouth as if all the years of birding culminated to this point. I began to sing at the top of my lungs, if my wife was with me, she would have turned all different colors, but when I am alone and at my age, I share my joy. I don’t get embarrassed easily. So, this is what I sang:

The heavens are telling the glory of God,
And all creation is shouting for joy!
Come, dance in the forest, come, play in the field,
And sing, sing to the glory of the Lord!

Having known these words for much of my life. I have sung it; I have read it from the original prayer, and I have studied its inspiration. Canticle of the Sun was written in Italian by St. Francis of Assisi in 1225. Incidentally, I took his name for my confirmation at the age of 14, and I wear a medal of St. Francis always. He has been an inspiration for me all my life. His humility and love have always drawn me close to him. I always thought I understood him but until recently it truly did not click in my simple mind.

Yes, I understood his love for the Lord and all His creation. I know as most people do and some don’t want to admit that there is a Creator. I personally am not surprised that He would want to look in on us and that He loves us. But I didn’t understand though simple, it didn’t hit me until that day and then it would be several weeks later that I have been given the true understanding to express it.

As Ash Wednesday came and the Lenten season was once again upon us, I decided to reread the ever-perennial Book of Job. A book from the Old Testament that in a certain way delves into trying to understand human suffering, sacrifice and our relationship with our Lord. This time I concurrently read the book “On Job” by Gene Fendt that was released this year. I found it incredibly helpful to meditate and pray with.

This is a immensely deep topic. Volumes of books have been written by theologians, philosophers and thinkers. People with greater skill and study than I will ever have. Yet, we have all been given the same gift and this is what is most important.

Job in his infinite wisdom never denies the Lord. He does not understand why he suffers and groans at the suffering, but Satan could not break him. Because he knew with deep understanding and acceptance that all he is and all we have is given to us by the Lord our God. How can we, which are only part of His creation, think or believe that we can understand all things. It is a farce for us to act as we do. “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!”

Even the greatest scientists in the world have found that intelligent design can be the only thing that can explain creation. This is why all life is precious. We create, but we are limited. Only our Lord God has created all things, and He is always calling us home. As Gene Fendt states in his book “The world is groaning and cries out for its recreation. Only that will answer: all things must be made new again.” This making new again can only done with and through the creator.

So many fall for the lies of the evil one. Anyone who denies creation and nature in an attempt to bend it to their will only make a mockery of themselves and ultimately destroy themselves. We should always work in concert with nature not against it. Then we truly participate in the natural order. I pray for those that deny nature and its order to come back to the reality that their true longing is to be with the Creator God. Sadly, they fall for lies when all around them is beauty and the truth is in our face, if only, we should all open our eyes. As a Christian and from my own natural observance I know that my redeemer lives that I may rise again.

It is God calling us, everything in nature is shouting to us; “Hear me and follow me for I AM the LORD your God.” With humility and this understanding, I know I must accept all burdens that come my way and I must face them always realizing that everything belongs to the Lord for the rain falls on the Good and the Bad and I must always do all things with Love for others.

Thank you, St. Francis and St. Job, for giving me the words I need to express the revelation given to me that day in the park and most importantly thank you my Lord and God Jesus Christ for your love always. I am but nothing in this world and humbly I beg you to have mercy on my sins and those of the whole world.

With that said, I will continue to sing! Sing to the glory of the Lord!

NorthJersey.com

An article on Kahlil Gibran

Recently, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Hannan Adely of the online newspaper NorthJersey.com. She contacted me because she saw that I had read The Prophet for my blog. I was pleasantly surprised that she stumbled across it and called me.

I am happy to say that she quoted me in her article about Kahlil Gibran. It was even surprising how much of what I said made into the article. Maybe, it was just because I live in North Jersey that it was important to the readers to get the pulse of the man on their street.

Either way, whatever the reason I am happy that I was able to contribute to the history of this great artist, author and poet and that maybe, just one more person maybe influenced by the beauty of his writing.

The Prophet By Kahlil Gibran Final Audio

On Death & The Farewell

I want to add that it has been one hundred years since this book was released. There should be a movement to resurrect its reading in schools. Kahlil Gibran was an important character that is being ignored in modern society. The Prophet was a bestseller and is still loved. May God bless his memory and his soul in heaven.