REFLECTIONS TODAY

Matthew 25:14-30 [or 25:14-15, 19-21] 

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. 

“After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’… Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. 

Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with 10. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ ”

Investment of life 

The Parable of the Talents revolves around the master’s extended absence and the servants waiting for their master’s return. The master stands for Jesus as the Son of Man, his return for the end of time, and the accounting of the servants for the final judgment. 

Matthew places the parable in the context of the household, even as he is particularly concerned about the growing Christian community. 

In the cultural world of the time, there were many servants who served as managers of their masters’ properties or estates. Some were learned enough, with abilities on administration and accounting. Matthew wishes to emphasize the person’s great responsibility in taking care of the master’s properties, here represented as “talents.” He expects from the leaders of the early Christian communities to be trustworthy and sensible servants, to care for the greatest wealth of the Church — the Christian faith. Such is also the concern of Paul when he writes to Timothy to keep the faith (2 Tm 4:7), “to stir into flame the gift of God” (2 Tm 1:6), and not to be “lovers of money” (2 Tm 3:2). Peter, likewise, urges the elders of the Church to tend the flock of God willingly and eagerly and not for shameful profit (1 Pt 5:2). In whatever way, every person receives from God certain gifts or talents—a package coming with the gift of life. Life is a gift from God, and what we do with our life is our gift back to God. 

Spiritual writer Henri Nouwen shares: “Life is just an interruption of eternity... and our short lives on earth are sowing times. Life is an investment. People can benefit through our life as we go on bearing fruit even after we die, since the legacy we leave for the people we have known finds its fullness after we are gone” (Henri Nouwen and Spiritual Polarities).

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.