Do we make use of the gifts that God has given us? Deacon Tom Elitz, SJ, reflects on the purpose of God’s gifts so that we might be transformed by them. Based on the readings for Sunday, November 19, 2023.

God gives us lots of gifts. But, why?

Hi I’m Deacon Tom Elitz, and this is my one-minute homily

So often, we give gifts to other people for their enjoyment. We say, “Here I got you this shirt, I think you’ll like it.”

But God gives gifts for other reasons. Rather than giving gifts primarily for our enjoyment, God gives gifts for our transformation – transformation into sons and daughters of God.

Today’s Gospel invites us to consider how we are being transformed by the gifts that God has given us. Like the servants who multiplied their master’s money, are we using our gifts to grow in charity, to become more like God?

Or are we hoarding our gifts, not allowing them to bring about the transformation that God wants?

God gives us all kinds of gifts – some enjoyable and some not so enjoyable. But whatever the gift may be, we consider how we can use it to be transformed into people of greater love.

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