God, I thank you that You are never far from me. I count on your presence in my life. May I unself-consciously let people share that experience. I realize that I am in a powerful position, so seeking to convert is wrong. But as St. Francis says, preach always, use words when necessary.
May my care for my colleagues help them to do their best. May colleagues see that their 5 talents return an additional 5 talents for them and for us. May a less gifted colleague maximize their talents as well.
Might my coaching help people identify their aspirations, be mindful of their talent, so they can expend their energy to move closer to their hopes for themselves and our company. Make me sensitive to their long-term goals; may I help them with short term improvement and support them to advance as valued members of our organization.
I know that I am a very imperfect instrument in your hands. I feel there is danger that I could do this in a self-aggrandizing manner, as the “super coach.” Save me from that. Let people feel cared for, so that they might also feel that “You have always been their help, rejoicing in the shadow of your wings.”
Section 2, Scripture: Ps 63:1.7; MT 25:14-27
| Hebrew Scripture | New Testament |
| Psalm 63: 1, 7)” God, you are my God, I pine for you; my heart thirsts for you, my body longs for you, as a land parched, dreary and without water….for you have always been my help; in the shadow of your wings I rejoice” | The Parable of the Talents. 14 “It will be as when a man who was going on a journey* called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.15 To one he gave five talents;* to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately16 the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. 17 Likewise, the one who received two made another two.18 But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.19 After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.20The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’22 [Then] the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’24 Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter;25 so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ 26 His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!* So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? |
Section 3:
You may wish to be silent for a few minutes.
Section 4:
Offer prayer in your own words speaking to God who is for us, with us and in us.