another, and one to a third, After a long time, the master of those servants returned and
asked for a reckoning. The one who received five talents came with another five talents,
saying: ‘Lord, you entrusted me with five talents, but see I have gained five more with
them.’ The master answered: ‘Very well, good and faithful servant, since you have been
faithful in a few things, I will entrust you with much more. ’ Then the one who had two
talents came and said: ‘Lord, you entrusted me with two talents; I have two more which
I gained with them.’
“Finally, the one who had received one talent came and said: ‘ I was afraid, so I hid your
money in the ground. Here, take what is yours.’ But his master replied: ‘ Then you should
have deposited my money in the bank, and you would have given it back to me with
intereston my return. Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has
ten. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but
from those who are unproductive, even what they have will be taken from them. As for
that useless servant, throw him out into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.
Reflect
Afew years ago, there was a glut of television shows that gathered talented amateurs to
perform their acts as part of a competition. The winner received a contract to perform at a
major venue along with a large cash prize. Even the people who didn’t win hoped to get
enough exposure on television to turn their talent into cash and fame.
But that’s not how today’s reading calls us to use our talents. In Jesus’ parable, he
cautions his listeners against hiding their talents away instead of investing time and energy
to develop them. We should be grateful and faithful to the one who gave us these talents.
We show our faith and gratitude by using these talents well. In his first Letter to the
Thessalonians, Paul explains more about how we are to use our talents. We are to use
our talents for our own good and the good of the community. We are to use our gifts to
share mutual love with our brothers and sisters, so that we all may share our master’s joy.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023
