THE GIFTS YOU ARE HIDING TODAY COULD BE THE ONES THE WORLD NEEDS THE MOST

The words which Jesus himself spoke more than 2000 years ago that “no one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed; rather a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house” (Luke 8: 16), are valid and still relevant even now as you read this. 

All of us (in our respective fields of life) are called to be a light to others. We are all lamps with light. A lot of light glows within us but we ‘cover it with a bowl or hide it’ due to either laziness or fear of the unknown. 

Many people are gifted and talented in various ways but they fear to unleash out their potential and use their gifts to develop themselves and the world around them. This is against the mind of Jesus. Jesus is urging us to use our gifts and talents. Let us not hide our gifts and talents. Let us use them. Let us put them in public for others to see the light. 

I know many people who have great potentials but have decided to sit on them and instead envy those who dare to put to maximum use of their gifts. You don’t need to envy the person who has put his / her gifts and talents to light. Instead uncover yours too so that it can also shine for others to see. Those gifts in you which you are afraid of putting to light could be the ones which the world needs most

My fellow people don’t be afraid to venture into the deep. Don’t fear to let out your gifts shine in the dark. Your gift and talent could be the one that will shine and dispel the darkness out of the world. 

Your gifts and talents could even enormously earn you a living instead of wasting your productive time gallivanting on the streets looking for jobs. There is no gift or nobody that is insignificant. All peoples you see walking on the streets irrespective of age, sex, colour and race have got talents worth millions of dollars, but all lay in them unused. And if nothing is done, such gifts and talents end up being buried with them in the grave—having helped neither themselves nor the world. 

Don’t let yourself be counted among those who choose to be buried with their gifts. Put your gifts to light. Don’t be afraid. The world needs them. Your gifts can make a world a better place to live in. Remember the talents you have were gifted to you by God. Once you put them to use, God will never let you down for He says in Isaiah 41:13 that “For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, fear not, I will help you”. From today on, resolve to unleash your potential. Start small today and greatness will be yours tomorrow. Start with what you have now and God will bless your endeavours.

Many blessings.

With much love,

Fr. Stephen Kakande C.S.Sp.