Reflections on the parable of the talents

Sunday 13th's Gospel reading was the parable Jesus told about the talents (Mt 25, 14-30)

To me this is one of the most thought-provoking readings in the Gospels.

Here is the parable:

For even as a man going into a far country called his servants and delivered to them his goods; and to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability: and immediately he took his journey. And he that had received the five talents went his way and traded with the same and gained other five. And in like manner he that had received the two gained other two. But he that had received the one, going his way, dug into the earth and hid his lord's money. But after a long time the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them. And he that had received the five talents coming, brought other five talents, saying: Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold I have gained other five over and above. His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant, because you have been faithful over a few things, I will place you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.  And he also that had received the two talents came and said: Lord, you delivered two talents to me. Behold I have gained other two.  His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant: because you have been faithful over a few things, I will place you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. But he that had received the one talent, came and said: Lord, I  know that you are a hard man; you reap where you have not sown and gather where you have not strewed. And being afraid,  I went and hid your talent in the earth. Behold here you have that which is yours. And his lord answering, said to him: Wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I sow not and gather where I have not strewed. You ought therefore to have committed my money to the bankers: and at my coming I should have received my own with usury.  Take away therefore the talent from him and give it him that has ten talents.  For to every one that has shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that has not, that also which he seems to have shall be taken away. And the unprofitable servant, cast out into the exterior darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Reflection:

Theme: Using our talents

·   At times we satisfy our conscience by serving God simply by refraining from committing mortal sin.  From where does this attitude stem?

·   Are we putting to good use and developing the faculties and talents that God gave us? Do we fully understand the responsibility we have to do this?

·   What holds us back from progressing towards our ideal state of being perfect like our Father in Heaven?

Points to reflect upon:

·  More often than not, when we think about our sins, we tend to   remember more the evil that we would have done, rather than the good which we left in our wake. The third servant was punished not so much for what he had done than for what he did not do.  He was punished not for squandering or losing the talent with which he had been entrusted but for not having used it and increased it.  Let us keep in mind that besides sins of commission, we can also be guilty of perpetrating sins of omission – that is, when we fail to do good.  When we confess our sins at the beginning of the Mass we also confess those things that we ‘have failed to do’.  These sins can often be more serious than those evil things that we actually do.

·   Some Catholics may think that it is enough if they keep themselves away from mortal sin.  They estimate what they can get away with and then, making sure that they do not overstep the line into mortal sin, they feel entitled to do as they please.  It is not enough to simply observe and obey the Ten Commandments!  It is not as though we can rest easy, assured of our salvation just by the simple expedient of observing the Commandments without the need to struggle and strive to progress on our path to salvation.

·   Sloth is not to be mistaken for caution.  That we do not take risks is not prudence.  As Catholics we are called to base our lives not only on the Ten Commandments but also on the Sermon on the Mount.  We are called to live within the spirit of Christ and therefore we have to follow in his footstep and strive to live as He did.  It follows therefore that not only should we not abuse the name of God but that we should praise and thank Him throughout our lives.  Married couples should not only refrain from committing adultery but they should seek to always increase the unity and love that exists between them.  We Christians should not only not hate and not pay wrongdoing in kind but must seek to love everybody, as Christ did.   Not only should we not close ourselves within ourselves but like Christ, we should always keep our eyes and hearts open to the needs of those around us and we should even be ready to risk our assets and our very lives for others.  In short, we Christians are called to perfection as our Father in Heaven is perfect.  And as long as we are on this earth, we can never say that we have achieved this state.  We must always seek to progress in righteousness, in good intentions and in generosity towards others.  We must cooperate with joy in the graces and calls that God sends us.  We must, with all courage develop the talents that God gives us for our own good, for the good of the Church and of society.

·  What would our world be like if the saints chose to be happy with simply not committing mortal sin and chose not to put to good use the talents which God had given them?  What would have happened to so many  souls if the likes of St. Francis, St. Dominic and St. John Bosco chose simply to observe the commandments and do nothing more.  We have to be willing to risk everything and to trust blindly in God.