My wonderful Jesuit priest friend and colleague Fr. Larry Gillick S.J. and I were having a lively conversation about ministry.  We both acknowledged that we began our professional lives with a specific plan in mind, but God had a different idea.  I aspired to be a teacher and Fr. Gillick was going to be a Jesuit Brother.  My path changed abruptly through my pastor’s unexpected invitation to work in ministry in our parish.  Although I was very reluctant and fearful, I agreed to accept my pastor’s offer for “only” one year.  I loved every minute of the seventeen years I remained in that position!  My life as a lay minister has been deeply fulfilling and graced.

Fr. Gillick chuckled at my change of vocational plans and then described his own call to ministry.  He said, When I entered the Society of Jesus, I began my formation as a Jesuit Brother.  Because I was blind, I was not allowed to enter as a priest.  I was told that I would be very welcome to become a Brother.  That was not a problem for me.  I was elated to enter and study to be a Jesuit Brother.

He went on to explain that one day he was doing yard work and a Jesuit priest friend of his stopped by to talk.  They visited for a few minutes and then his friend said, You know Larry, you are wasting some of our gifts.  Fr. Gillick was confused and deeply struck by those words and asked what he meant.  His friend said, I’ve observed you and witnessed your gifts.   You would make an outstanding priest.  Their conversation ended and his friend walked on but Fr. Gillick continued to ponder those words, taking them to prayer and processing with his spiritual director.  He began to consider his ministry call in a new way.  As time went on, he received tremendous support and advocacy from his superiors and other fellow Jesuits.  He was eventually granted permission from Rome to begin formation for the priesthood.  Since his ordination, his gifts have touched the lives of tens of thousands of people all around the world through retreats, liturgies, renewals, presentations, spiritual direction and university teaching.  I cannot imagine the world if Fr. Larry Gillick had not listened to the words of his friend that day and taken them to his heart.

Today’s Gospel is about the rich landowner who entrusted large amounts of money (talents) to three of his servants.  (Biblical scholars tell us that each talent which is described in this gospel was worth a considerable amount of money.) Two of the servants were able to find ways to double their master’s money while he was away.  The third servant was fearful so he buried the talent and did not try to use it creatively for his master.   

Like the master in the parable, God lavishes us with abilities, strengths, skills, knowledge and many other gifts/charisms and invites us to develop and use these precious capacities for others.    As James and Evelyn Whitehead write …charisms appear in individuals but they are given for the community.  They are personal but not private gifts.  Charisms appear among us…to empower our contribution to the group’s life. 1 

God invites, encourages and loves us to become all that we can be.  Unlike the master in the parable, even when we are fearful, reticent or feeling inadequate God is there whispering to us through any means or any person who will help us hear the message.  We may not know the fullness of the moment right away but when we look back, we will smile and say, “Aha, there you were, God.” 

1. The Emerging Laity:  Returning Leadership to the Community of Faith by James D. and Evelyn E. Whitehead.  Doubleday & Company, Inc. Garden City, New York 1986