Be enterprising
ABEGGAR is often seen at a busy sidewalk extending his begging can to passersby. Everybody was surprised when they saw him one morning extending two cans. Someone asked him, “Why do you have two now?”
“Business is good. I’ve opened a new branch!” the guy replied. That’s just a funny story but it shows the enterprising spirit of that beggar which the Lord in today’s Parable of the Talents teaches.
*** I happened to meet a nice guy who would consult me about his project of writing a book on numerology. He was so immersed in his project, locking himself inside his room totally oblivious of the needs of his own family.
*** The poor wife groaned over the burden of making a living. One time the wife requested me to talk to her husband to put aside his long-drawn project. When I talked with him, he reacted, “Why should my family complain? We don’t starve. We eat three square meals
a day.”
*** “That may be true,” I replied, “but you see, that’s not enough. You’re renting an apartment. You should make more money so you can buy your own house or condo. And since you and your wife are in business which requires a lot of leg-work, you should have a car. It’s a necessity.”
*** I added, “Your writing takes so much of your time; you hardly have time for your wife and kids.” My friend looked at me quizzically then said, “You have a point there. I’ll think about it.”
*** We did not see each other for some years after I moved to my residence here in Christ the King Seminary. But one afternoon, he surprised me when, out of the blue, he showed up.
*** And guess what? He looked smartly dressed and looked fulfilled. He said jubilantly he was a stock exchange broker now!
Then he brought out a voluminous manu- script. You guess it; it was his “opus magnum” ready for printing.
*** Our Lord teaches clearly that we should be enterprising and possibly “double our money.” That’s what he conveys in today’s Parable of the Talents (Mt 25, 14-30).
*** The resourceful first and second men entrusted with five and three talents, respectively, and doubled their money, were commended by the master. The lazy guy, however, who received one talent but failed to invest it, incurred the wrath and punishment of his master.
*** Strive to improve your lot. And when you have more than enough, don’t just wallow in your wealth but reach out to those who have less in life.
There’s a Dutch philanthropist, Herman Steur, who abandoned a comfortable life in Holland and devoted his whole life helping the poorest of the poor in Sri Lanka. He said: “The worst thing in the world is to die with lots of money without having enriched the lives of the destitute.”
*** EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS AT PINK SISTERS. You are invited to the 27th Eucharistic Congress on Nov. 29, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m. For the first 2,000 registrants, registration, snacks and lunch are free.
*** This year’s congress theme is: “Eucharist in the Year of the Laity.” Venue: St. Joseph’s Adoration Convent, 71 Hemady Avenue corner 11th St. New Manila, Quezon City. For inquiries, call Pink Sisters Convent at 722-8828.