Gospel: Parable of the Talents

Today marks the Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, and the Gospel reading in the Eucharistic celebration will be lifted from the narrative of St Matthew (tap here for the complete Mass readings from USCCB).

This week's Gospel speaks of how Jesus' disciples are to conduct themselves as they await the Kingdom of Heaven. In the preceding passages and in last week's Gospel, Jesus taught that there is no way to predict the coming of God's kingdom. His disciples must, therefore, remain vigilant and ready to receive the Son of Man at any man.

Jesus' parable talks about Christian discipleship using economic metaphors. Before he leaves on a journey, the master entrusts to his servants a different number of talents, giving to each according to their abilities. A talent is a coin of great value. Upon the master's return, he finds that the first and second servants have doubled their money, and both are rewarded. The third servant, however, has only preserved what was given to him because he was afraid to lose the money. He has risked nothing; he did not even deposit the money in a bank to earn interest. This servant is punished by the master, and his talent is given to the one who has brought the greatest return from what was originally given.

Read in the light of last week's parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids, this parable teaches that God's judgment will be based on the service we render to God and to one another in accordance with the gifts that God has blessed us with. Our gifts, or talents, are given to us for the service of others. If we fail to use these gifts, God's judgment to us will be severe. On the other hand, if we make use of these gifts in service to the Kingdom of Heaven, we will be rewarded and entrusted with even more responsibilities.

This Gospel reminds us that Christian spirituality is not passive or inactive. Our life of prayer helps us to discern the gifts that have been given to us by God. This prayer and discernment ought to lead us to use these gifts in the service of God and our neighbor. For this end, God's grace allows us to share in the work of serving the Kingdom of Heaven.

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