Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord

 

 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.  And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.  Then he who had received the five talents went ad traded with them, and made another five talents.  And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.  But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.  After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.  So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'  Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground.  Look, there you have what is yours.'  But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.  So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.  Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.  For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.  And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

 

- Matthew 25:14–30 

 

In our recent readings, Jesus has been speaking to the disciples about "end times," prophesying both the destruction of the temple and also His Second Coming and judgment.  In yesterday's reading, He told this parable:  "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.  And at midnight a cry was heard:  'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'  Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'  But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!'  But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."

 

  "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.  And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.  Then he who had received the five talents went ad traded with them, and made another five talents.  And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.  But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.  After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.  So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'  Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground.  Look, there you have what is yours.'  But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.  So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.  Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.  For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.  And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  My study Bible comments that this parable is an illustration regarding the use of gifts which are given by God.  Jesus uses the talent as a measure of such gifts.  Across the ancient Greek and Roman influenced world of international trade, a talent (Greek τάλαντον/talanton) was a very large sum of money (it was a weight measurement for a pure metal, either gold or silver; approximately 75 pounds, according to one estimate).  My study Bible continues by saying that the amount each one receives is based on that person's abilities (Romans 12:4-7).  It notes that God doesn't show partiality in the ultimate reward -- as we should not ethat all are invited to share in the same joy.  But at the same time, and comparable to the parable in yesterday's reading about the Wise and Foolish Virgins, the wicked and lazy servant could not evade responsibility for ignoring his talent.  My study Bible says that idleness is as much a rejection of God as outright wickedness.  That he buried his talent in the ground suggests that he used his God-given gifts solely for earthly pursuits.  My study Bible also comments that the bankers represent other faithful people to help him use his talents wisely.  As help was available to to him in the Church, this man has no excuse.

Once again, today's parable is given as a warning and indication of the judgment to come at Christ's return.  The word for "talents" in modern English derives its meaning from this parable in the Bible.  This is the way in which common understandings come from Scripture, Biblical literature.  If we think of talents as being that which is of weight or substance, it simply adds to the understanding here.  For these talents are God-given, we are to understand, In some way, they come from the ultimate Source of weight or meaning, of substance, which is God.  Therefore, there is an even greater meaning pressing in upon us here:  those things that God shares with us that are of true weight or substance, of true value, are all the more important to use as God's will would teach us to use them.  For example, we are given bodies, beauty, attractiveness.  We can use such to profit through works that are (for example) pornographic in nature, or we may find that beauty, attractiveness, health can be part of the gifts we use in life to put to use providing beauty to the world, adding character and meaning to such, helping others, embodying prayer, building good things, and teaching good things, including helping children and families.  We can find that we have a writing talent, and of course we have choices in how we will use that talent.  We might have a talent for singing and music.  Our music can be music of the angels that inspires and brings beauty and well-being to others, or we can sing with lyrics that foster hatred and violence.  Whatever our talents, we all have ways to use them to our advantage or disadvantage -- or even more pertinently, in ways that produce abundance for the Kingdom, the things of the Kingdom, which would be also somehow connected to the fruit of the Spirit:  "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (see Galatians 5:22-23).  For these are the profits of a life invested in God's word and in the Spirit of God, in faith.  We have choices in terms of what we wish to show and to give to the world, or how we desire to commit to God's word, to faith in God's work as a disciple of Christ.  We all may practice acts of charity and compassion when we have opportunity, and the odd thing is that we will find out that God's gifts -- no matter how meagerly "talented" we might think we are -- suffice to bring great and generous good to others in ways that will surpass our expectations.  As St. Paul explains, God's grace is such that it works with even the things about ourselves we consider defective and insufficient.  After praying to be released from an affliction, he was told:  "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  "Therefore." writes St. Paul, "most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-9).   Whatever our "talents," we should all remember that because we are given life, we always have things to work with, resources to use in our lives.  Even those seemingly most afflicted with handicaps have wonderful smiles and joy that radiate to others, delight to give to those who know them and love them.  But we also have ways to bear fruit that have to do with our devotion to the Lord and Christ's teachings that may be done without others even knowing, such as when we bear our own crosses and suffer through our commitment in His name, or seek in prayer to find Christ's direction for us, devoting our hearts and lives to Christ's mercy and love, even in the company of the saints of the Church (the "bankers" according to my study Bible).  Let us consider all the ways in which we may use our talents and enter into the joy of our Lord.