‘‘To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability’’ (Matthew 25:14:15)

I am constantly amazed at the uniqueness and intricacy of God’s creation. As humans we have an urge to seek conformity and try to converge and unitise things according to our own patterns of understanding and comfortability. Our efforts to create unity are often misplaced because what we seek is uniformity rather than an appreciation and celebration of the uniqueness of whom we have been created to be.

In today’s parable of the talents, Jesus acknowledges the differing abilities of each person. While he expects that they will use what they have been entrusted with to produce more, he does not expect that their outcomes will be the same. Jesus celebrates and rewards both the one who has five and the one who has two talents. But the one who hides his talent is castigated for being wicked and lazy.

Too often we measure our own and others’ achievements with a scale that does not reflect the true nature of our giftedness. Those who cultivate their giftedness in mathematics, science, finance, music or sport are often rewarded with acclaim and public accolades. For those with less visible giftings, for example, those caring for children, the sick, the aged or the homeless with love and respect, mostly do not receive acknowledgment of their efforts. God knows, sees and rewards us according to how we use what we have been given.

Let us rejoice in the gifts we have been given and use them wisely to build a world of love that respects and values the contributions of each person.