The Parable of the Talents

In today’s gospel, we hear the parable of the talents.

During Jesus’ life – a talent meant a very large sum of money – about 20 years’ worth of wages - so let’s say each talent would be worth about $1 million today. 

The English meaning of talent which we are now accustomed to is derived from this parable and first meant a gift from God.

In our gospel, a master leaves the country for a long trip and so he entrusts his servants with his money based upon their abilities.  To one he gives 5 talents (or $5 million) – this servant quickly goes to work and doubles the value.  To the second he gives 2 talents and he also works hard to double the value.  To the third, he gives 1 talent or $1 million. 

The third servant does not react like the first two:

Rather than working hard to create more wealth for his master, he buries it.  If we were given $1 million from a friend, we probably would not go dig a hole in our yard to bury this.  At the very least, we would invest it so we can earn interest.

The third servant has 2 major flaws – he doesn’t respect his master (God) and he is lazy.  We should all have a healthy fear of God, one which is based upon love and respect – this servant had an unhealthy fear, one which is based on a lack of faith and understanding.  Whereas the first 2 servants acted out of love for their master and were rewarded, the third lacked love and was paralyzed by his lack of faith. 

St Francis de Sales said “We must fear God out of love, not love God out of fear”

This 3rd servant is also lazy – sloth is one of the 7 deadly sins – those who have been given talents but do not use them are lazy – those who have been given faith, but do not exercise it are spiritually lazy.

It is interesting to note that the lazy servant is also not guilty of what he did, he did return the money and did not steal any of it - but he is guilty of what he failed to do, a sin of omission.

At the beginning of each mass we recite what we call the Confiteor – it is a public confession – “in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and what I have failed to do”.  This parable clarifies that it is a sin to waste God’s gifts.

This parable is not about investing money, though.  This parable is about gifts which God gives to us. Everything we have and everything that is good in the world is a gift from God and we should use the gifts for his benefit.

The penalty for not using God’s talents properly is severe – it is hell.  Jesus is very clear – there is a heaven and there is a hell – and we determine where we go based upon how well we follow his commandments.

We have all been given gifts – some more than others.  My wife and I each come from big families and I often wonder how we can be so different when we came from the same parents.  The gifts are not evenly distributed.   But whether you have 1 talent or 5 talents, you have been given all the talents you need and the talents are meant to be shared for the good of God and others.  If you do use them for the good of God, more will be given to you.  Christ also warns us, that if we have been given more, more is expected of us. 

Those who do share their gifts for God’s sake often sacrifice personally as well.  Most who serve the church as teachers, musicians, clergy could certainly make more money serving the secular world, but they are using their talents as Christ has asked us to in this gospel.  Thank you to Father, musicians, etc.

If we have been given more, we should be thankful and not prideful – giving credit to God.  In that spirit, I would like to say a few words about Thanksgiving next week. 

Many Americans may not know, or forgot, that Thanksgiving was proclaimed a holiday by President George Washington within the first 6 months of his presidency. 

The word holiday was originally derived from Holy Day.  Thanksgiving was declared a Holy Day for all US citizens.

At the urgency of both sides of Congress, Washington issued a proclamation which said that it is the duty of all nation to acknowledge Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits and humbly to implore his protection and favor.   Therefore, he declared a day devoted to the service of the great and glorious being, who is the author of all the good that was, is or ever will be, that we may render unto him our sincere and humble thanks. 

I have left copies of the Proclamation in the vestibule.  You may want to read this to your families at Thanksgiving dinner next week.

We are so fortunate to have had faith filled founders who not only believed in the Judeo-Christian values laid out in the Bible, but also acted swiftly to give thanks and glory to God.

God did the hard work by creating us and giving us talents and he gave our country an abundance of gifts, we should do the easy part and use these gifts as God wants us to. 

Let us reflect and pray that we use these talents well so when we die and Jesus asks us for an accounting of our lives, which he has told us he will do, then we can confidently say, “Master, I have taken what you have given me and I have doubled it”.  And then we can smile as he says, “Well done, my good and faithful servant, come share your master’s joy.”

May God bless each of you and may you have a Blessed Thanksgiving.

By the President of the United States of America — A Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their Joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us—and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go. Washington