My Dear People, 

IIn today’s Gospel, the scenario is that of a rich man (the Son of Man) who entrusts his wealth to servants (disciples) while he goes off on a journey (his death, resurrection, and ascension). Three servants are given a monetary trust, with each receiving different amounts corresponding to his individual ability. The first received five talents, the second, two, and the third, one. The master’s expectation is that his servants should engage in some business venture that will yield a profit for him. 

It is impossible to calculate what each talent was worth in modern currency. The talent was a measurement of weight.  The value of any given talent depended on whether it was gold, silver, or copper. Nevertheless, all agree that a single talent was a significant amount of wealth to be used in commercial trading. It is remarkable that the servants entrusted with five and two talents doubled the master’s money before his return. However, the servant with one talent declined to invest altogether and buried his talent in the ground for safekeeping. 

Most commentators identify the talents of the parable with personal endowment of some sort. One might think of natural abilities and aptitude that are meant to be used for the service of others. Similarly, the financial resources entrusted to us are to be invested for the good of others, especially the poor. One could also apply the talents to spiritual gifts that are meant to be used for the edification of the Church. Each of these interpretations represents a legitimate way to read the parable and apply its lessons today.

Beyond this, a good case could be made that each talent represents “knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (see 13:11).  Matthew’s readers are cued to make this connection in verse 29, where the principle of receiving “more” or having it “taken away” is precisely what Jesus said earlier about his disciples’ knowledge of the kingdom (see 13:12). Remember that the disciples, unlike the crowds, were blessed to receive the interpretation of the parables in private. (13:16). Their instructions in the kingdom, the sacred trust, was to be invested through a ministry of preaching and teaching the nations. 

When the master returns to settle accounts with his servants, the first two are praised and promoted. Since both have made a 100 percent return on their investments, both are told: “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” and, “Come, share your master’s joy.” Having been trustworthy in small matters, they are promised great responsibilities. This is the same principle enunciated in 24:47, namely, the fulfilling of spiritual duties will earn more of the Lord’s trust.

The servant in charge of one talent rendered his account with an excuse for giving back the same amount. He knew his master to be a demanding person, taking in profits wherever he could. He was paralyzed with fear at the thought of losing his master’s money. This is why he buried the talent rather than investing it.

The reply of the master is a stern and stinging rebuke. In his view, the very reason cited for burying the talent should have been the motivation to trade with it. The fact that the servant knew his master to be a tough businessman should have prompted him to pursue some kind of financial undertaking. Even the small amount of interest earned from a bank would have been better than no return at all. But having failed to make even a minimal effort, he is branded a wicked and lazy servant.

Confining ourselves to the storyline of the parable, the master’s rebuke seems excessively harsh. But if the talents represent each servant’s “knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (13:11), then the severity of the charge is understandable.  Being entrusted with the message of salvation entails great responsibility.  To sit on that message or to bury it for ourselves is a serious breach. He does not want us to give it back to Him unshared and unfruitful.

The concluding verses are a sentencing of the wicked servant to the darkness that lies outside the kingdom. Even the one talent he had in the trust of his master is taken away from him and given to another. 

These are sobering words that every disciple of Jesus needs to hear. Whatever we have been given—natural abilities, financial resources, spiritual gifts, or stewardship of the mysteries of the kingdom—we will have to render an account for the way we have used what has been entrusted to us. Only by investing our gifts and turning a profit for the Lord will we enter into the joy of His kingdom. 

[Passages taken from the Gospel of Matthew by Curtis Mitch and Edward Sri]

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Vincent Clemente