​​We just finished our six-day silent retreat last evening.  It was a challenging week for me this year.  For some reason, I found myself getting very restless during this time set aside for spiritual renewal.
 
Nonetheless, it was a fruitful time.  I pray that the graces given during these days of prayer and quiet will take root and bear fruit in my life in the days and weeks to come.
 
One thing that stood out to me from the retreat was not from our conferences in chapel twice each day.  Rather, it was from the reading of our Franciscan Rule at breakfast one morning: “For all that happens to them let them give thanks to our Creator” (7.24).
 
This simple passage inspired me that, according to this book of spiritual instruction which I have promised to follow, I am to give thanks for everything!
 
During this retreat, I began to try to do that, thanking God for the blessings I could clearly see, but also for other things that didn’t strike me at first as being blessings.  
 
Before retreat, I knew it was good to be thankful, but this reading during a time of less distraction and more reflection gave me a “needed nudge,” you might say.
 
I pray that I may be faithful in following this exhortation in my life today, tomorrow, and the next day.  
 
Another insight came from conferences we had, in which I was reminded to pray before beginning interactions and to ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance on my day.  I was also reminded me of the importance of praying during times of temptation or difficulty, reinforcing something I had been realizing.  
 
During the retreat, I ended up praying that I might more readily remember to pray for help at such times so that I don’t fall into sinful or unfortunate behaviors.  I also prayed for this grace for any times in the future when I might forget to ask for help.  
 
Despite the difficulties I experienced on this retreat, I do want to give thanks for the “needed nudges” that I received.  

​This morning, in chapel, my eye glanced passingly at the gospel passage; I noticed it was quite long.  Though I wondered what it would be about, my focus returned to the first reading, which I would be proclaiming from the ambo in a short while.  
 
Having finished meditating on the epistle and psalm, I turned to the gospel, anxious to see what it would be about.  
 
As I read, I realized it was the familiar parable of the talents.  
 
Later, at breakfast, the question arose as to what a talent was and how much it was worth.  A quick search now, on my part, showed that five talents would be worth about  two million dollars by today’s standards.  I had had no idea previously.
 
Anyway, as I continued my morning scripture reading, the refrain, “Come, share your master’s joy,” struck a chord in my heart.  
 
It may be unique to Matthew’s gospel.
 
These words sounded so tender, so beautiful.  The master in the parable was inviting a mere servant to share his joy.  
 
As this is a gospel parable, we know it has implications beyond the surface, and possible implications for us.  
 
Although I know the words of this phrase would refer largely to the end of a faithful person’s life, when he finally meets his Lord, I realized that this gratuitous gift of sharing our Master’s joy is not entirely reserved for after one’s particular judgment.  
 
Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit; it comes to us through the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives.  
 
As children of God, baptized and confirmed, we are enabled to taste the joy of our Lord on this side of heaven.  
 
We are enabled to be joyful investors of His gifts, and joyful laborers in His vineyard because we are not alone; He is with us!