What did I do with the talents I received?

Mt 25,14-30 or 14-15.19-21

Author: Cecília Pellegrini

(Use of popular story characters)

There was once a very lively and creative writer named Dora, who lived to write beautiful children's stories.

When she was little, she asked her parents to read stories for her. Then she learned to read and write and she did not stop there. She felt an incredible desire to create...

Today would be no different, she approached some children who were playing and invited them to help her. She then picked up her pen and told the children she was going to write a story with Little Red Riding Hood. Then she asks, "What does she really look like?" Can you help me?”

The children were soon describing: - “She has black hair, a hooded red hood, she is kind...”

There were so many contributions that Dora warns that the ink of the pen is over and that she would get another one.

As the writer leaves, Little Red Riding Hood's face appears in one of the pages of the book and calls for the writer: - “Hello, writer Dora! Where is she?”

She looks sideways and sees the children sitting on the floor: - “Hey, children, may I get out of the book?”

Of course, the children agreed, and Little Red Riding Hood magically jumps out of the book and began to sing: "By the long road I'm going alone to take a piece of cake and a bottle of wine to my grandma. She lives far away, the road is deserted, and the Bad Wolf walks by."

She stops to sing and very distressed says: - “Oh! In this little story, there is a bad wolf... This is bad, very bad...”

The Wolf had already left the book days before and arrives in time to reassure Little Red Riding Hood: - “Hi Little Red Hood, do not worry, I spent a season with the people here and now I am a good wolf!”

Little Red Riding Hood was happy with the news: - “Good, Mr. Wolf! I want to know these people a lot.”

They spent a few minutes talking, but then the wolf says he needs to go: - “The talk is good, but now I need to go through the woods to teach everything I have learned and lived in this community.”

Little Red Riding Hood offers to accompany him: - “Can I go with you?”

The wolf agrees and Little Red Riding Hood, before leaving, asks the children a favor: - “Little friends, when the writer Dora arrives will you please tell her that the wolf is now good and that I went with him to the forest?”

And there they go, for the incredible experience of having contact with the humans of that forest.

When the writer arrives, the children run tell her: - “Dora, Little Red Riding Hood left the book and went to walk in the woods with the Bad Wolf.”

Dora is very nervous: "With Bad Wolf?" However, the children soon reassure her: "But now he's nice because he met the people here in the community."

The writer is very, very happy with the news: "Thank you for letting me know. Since Little Red Riding Hood is fine, I am going to continue my creations. Cinderella and Snow White need to be in my story too. What is Cinderella like?”

The children are eager to collaborate: "She has blond hair, blue dress, and Snow White has black hair and white skin, she is sweet, very kind...”

As soon as Dora starts to write, the magic happens again and Cinderella and Snow White leave the book and greet her very cheerfully: - “Hi Dora!”

The writer receives them with great affection: - “Hi my dear ones! Welcome!”

Little Red Riding Hood returns happily – “Hi, Dora! Hi Cinderella, Hi Snow White! You will not believe it! The Bad Wolf is now good!”

The friends reply: - “What a good thing!”

Little Red Riding Hood then tells the other news: - “Dora, the wolf helped so many people, I saw that humans have so many talents, a different way of doing good things and it was so good to get out of the book and live with humans!"

Dora adds: "Yes, when we human beings are born we have received many talents from God. You, too, my dear ones, when I created you, I also gave you many talents. A real gift!”

Little Red Riding Hood, very grateful, says: "We know and thank you, right, friends?"

Cinderella and Snow White agree: "Of course!"

The three of them look at the beautiful hearts hanging from a chain in their necks and each one shows their talents.

Little Red Riding Hood says: “I received five talents!”

Snow White: - “I received two!”

Cinderella: “I got one!”

Then the three thanked the creator: - “Thank you Dora!”

The writer is thrilled: - “You are welcome! Now I am going to have to go out and I want you to put the gifts you have received, that is, the talents, in the service of good and life.”

Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and Snow White reassure Dora that they will use their talents in the best way possible. The writer says good-bye and leaves.

Little Red Riding Hood enthusiastically says: "I'm going to start right now and put my talents into practice. Wolf will be able to help me; after all, he lived and learned a lot in this community. Do you want to come with me?"

Snow White immediately accepts: "I want too!"

Cinderella says, "I'd rather be here than out here in the sun. Walk through the woods and get tired? No way! You can go, bye!"

As soon as Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White leave, Cinderella begins to sing, "I'm going to sit here quietly, resting my little head. I will protect my talent; I will hide it so nothing happen to it...”

Then Cinderella enters back into the book.

The day goes by and Dora comes in excited to talk to her friends and starts calling them: - “Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and Snow White!”

Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf come in, carrying bags full of donations and Snow White arrives with one Bible and a rosary in her hands. The three of them were happy and satisfied: - “Hi Dora!”

The writer realizes that Cinderella did not arrive with them: - “Hi friends! Wasn’t Cinderella with you?”

The three say no. Then everyone start to call her and look for her everywhere: "Cinderella! Cinderella, where are you?”

Cinderella comes out of the book yawning: "Hi!"

Dora says: "You've stayed a while with the talents I gave you, and now I want to know what you did to them."

Mr. Wolf was the first to speak: "Dora, you will be very happy to see how Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White have multiplied the talents they have received."

Little Red Riding Hood says to her friend: "You have helped me greatly your Wolf, by telling how people multiply their talents. Then you just did the same. Look at the amount of donations we collected!”

She shows the bags full of clothes, shoes, toys and food: "Let's give it to the poor families. Dora, we also opened a resale shop to get money to help keep children at two daycare centers. When I realized, my five talents had turned ten. Many people joined us.”

Everyone noticed that on the Little Red Riding Hood's neck there was now ten beautiful hearts.

Snow White explained with joy: - “I organized prayer groups; I am now a catechist and also participate in the group that visits the sick. When I saw I did not have only two, but four talents. See it!”

She points to the four bright hearts that were around her neck.

Dora, full of pride, exclaims: "How wonderful! As you proved that you were responsible with the gifts, using wisely the talents I gave you, take more and more talents here.”

Therefore, the writer gave them many hearts. It was only Cinderella who did not tell what she had done with the talent she had received. "And you, Cinderella? I saw that you did not come with your friends.”

Cinderella replies, "Ah Dora, I did not want to go out there with my only talent so I preferred to stay with it just for me, not to be with other people and risk losing it. I went into the book and was quiet, hidden. I even slept for the time to pass...”

The wolf is curious and asks: - “What was the talent you received?”

Cinderella says: - “I don’t know, wait and let’s see.”

She takes the heart that has hanging around her neck and reads: - “It was singing. Ah! That is why I felt an incredible urge and started to sing!”

Little Red Riding Hood says: "It's a pity that you sang only for yourself and Dora said it was to be put to work."

Cinderella, very sorry, says: "Really! What did I do with the talent I received? I was selfish just keeping it for myself. Seeing the joy of you for everything you have done I want to try harder.”

Dora replies to her friend: - “I’m glad you realized it, regretted and want to change.”

Cinderella makes a promise: “Dora, I promise that from now on I will be responsible, caring, and dedicated to do well. To show my willingness to really change, I am here thinking... How about we make a very beautiful choir?”

Everyone replies happily and cheerfully: - “It's for now!”

A beautiful choir is formed, bringing everyone a lovely message:

“When I was born, talents I received.

I will multiply and always help.

Come with me, too.

And with Jesus we will celebrate.”