Success Is a Responsibility

Reflection Date: November 18, 2026 | Wednesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Daily Readings: Revelation 4:1-11; Luke 19:11-28

Children of God:
In the early 1940s, a young couple, Socorro Ramos and her husband Jose Ramos, established a small bookstore in Escolta, Manila, which eventually grew into the famous National Book Store. 

They started with a modest stall selling books, textbooks, novels, and school supplies, with very limited resources and a small amount of capital. 

During the Japanese occupation, strict censorship forced them to hide their books and sell other necessities such as soap, candies, and slippers to survive. 

In 1945, their store was destroyed during the Battle of Manila, but they refused to give up and rebuilt their business along Avenida Rizal after the war. 

Years later, National Book Store became one of the most recognizable retail institutions in the Philippines. The growth of National Book Store is a proof how  determination, hard work, and wise use of opportunities can turn a small enterprise into something that serves generations.

In the gospel story of Luke, a nobleman who entrusted ten servants with ten gold coins before leaving for a distant country. He instructed them to engage in business while he was away. 

When he returned, he discovered that some servants used their resources wisely and multiplied what they received, while another servant simply kept his coin hidden because he was afraid. The master rewarded those who made good use of what was entrusted to them, but reprimanded the servant who allowed fear and inactivity to waste his opportunity.

What are our inspirations for today?

First, make good use of what you already have.

In the gospel story, the nobleman gave his servants ten gold coins and instructed them to engage in business while he was away. When he returned, the first servant reported that his coin earned ten additional coins, while the second earned five more. 

They worked with what was entrusted to them and produced something valuable. Their master recognized their faithfulness and rewarded them with greater responsibilities (Luke 19:15-19).

Sometimes, we spend too much time wishing we had what other people possess. We wish we had more money, better equipment, a bigger house, a higher position, or greater connections. We postpone our plans because we think we lack the necessary resources. In the process, we overlook the opportunities already within our reach.

God invites us to begin with what we have. We may have limited resources, but we can still be generous. We may have little influence, but we can still encourage someone. We may have simple abilities, but we can still use them to serve our community. We should never underestimate the value of small beginnings and ordinary efforts. What matters is that we do not waste the opportunities entrusted to us.

Make good use of what you already have.

Second, fear should never become an excuse for refusing to fulfill our responsibilities.

The third servant approached his master with an explanation: he kept the gold coin hidden because he was afraid. He believed that doing nothing was safer than taking the risk of losing what he received. 

However, his master reprimanded him because he failed to make even the smallest effort to put the money to work. 

We experience the same struggle in our everyday lives. Some people are afraid to accept new responsibilities because they might fail. Others refuse to share their ideas because they fear criticism. There are people who avoid helping others because they are afraid of being taken advantage of. Some hesitate to pursue a good opportunity because they are too concerned about what might go wrong. 

We sometimes become so afraid of losing what we have that we forget the possibilities of what we can accomplish.

Of course, being responsible does not mean taking careless risks or making decisions without thinking. It means having the courage to act wisely despite uncertainty. We must learn, improve, take reasonable risks, and accept that mistakes can become opportunities for growth. 

God does not expect us to accomplish everything perfectly, but he expects us to be faithful with what we receive. The greatest waste is allowing fear to prevent us from doing the good that we are capable of doing.

Fear should never become an excuse for refusing to fulfill our responsibilities.

As we reflect, we ask ourselves: What opportunities and abilities do I already possess that I am failing to use? 

Am I spending too much time comparing my resources with those of others instead of making good use of what I have? What responsibilities am I avoiding because I am afraid of failure, criticism, or uncertainty?

Children of God:
Every day, God entrusts us with opportunities to do something good for ourselves, our families, and the people around us. We cannot control every circumstance, but we can choose to be faithful and responsible with what we receive. 

Let us never allow our gifts to remain unused or our opportunities to pass because of fear and hesitation. May we become people who use our time, talents, and resources wisely and joyfully in the service of God and others.