Homilies

33rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS

THE GOSPEL TODAY has been called the Parable of the Talents. Through this parable, Jesus teaches his disciples about the importance of using the gifts that God has given to us in service to the Kingdom of Heaven. The 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. A talent is a coin of great value. To better understand the parable, we may interpret talents here as gifts. We rather see this gospel parable in relation to the end time. As the liturgical year draws to its close, the gospel readings speak about the end time. This parable suggests that in the Last Judgment, the Lord will judge us on how we use the talents that he has given us. Let us now reflect on this gospel parable.

Firstly, the gospel tells us that our God is a Giver of talents or gifts, if you will. He is the man referred to in the parable who “called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them”. This is one aspect of our Christian life that some people today have forgotten. In today’s world, there is an overemphasis on competitions, achievements, and successes. Often, people attribute these to themselves. We can hear of the phrase, “I am a self-made man” or “I am a self-made woman”. While these people are competitive and successful, they also become an epitome of arrogance. So, let us go back to the basics of Christianity. We are just created beings, and we were not born complete. It is God who completes us, He continues to fill us with talents that we need for our personal growth. These possessions are his, and we are mere recipients of his gifts and goodness.

Secondly, God gives talents to us, not in a uniform way. As the gospel parable suggests, the master gives talents “to each according to his ability”. We know that different people have very different abilities. A person with a gift for listening to others may not have the skill to be a good administrator. Someone who is able to fix a washing machine might have no musical ability. An effective teacher may be a hopeless mechanic. We hire people accordingly, entrusting people with tasks in proportion to their ability. God considers our personal capacity. It is practical that God would do it this way, otherwise, some talents would be put to waste.

Thirdly, God will judge us on how we invest our gifts and talents. In the gospel parable, the rich man was happy with the first two servants because the talents given to them have grown. In other words, they have invested these talents very well. But he was extremely angry with the third servant who simply buried the given talent in the ground.

This third servant had a wrong idea about his master. He was afraid of him. He said, “Master, I knew you were a demanding person…. so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.” This can also happen in our lives. Our view of God can provide us with an easy excuse for laziness and self-pity.  We think of God as too harsh and that what he asks of us are unreasonable. But our God is good, loving, and forgiving.

The rich man was happy with the first two servants because they have invested well their talents. That can also be true with God. God wants to see these talents having grown and being shared. So, talents or gifts are not meant to be kept for personal use. Rather, these talents should be used for the growth of the family and community. This is the beauty of the Church which is filled with many gifts. In the Church, we see the various ministries, and all these contribute to the growth of the parish community and life.

Finally, let us take note that we are all responsible to whatever talents or gifts that God has given to each one of us. Less talents would mean less responsibility, but, if God gives us more talents, then, the responsibility becomes greater. In the end time, we will stand before the Lord and settle our accounts. Like the man in the parable, the Lord will judge us on how we have used the talents that He entrusted to us. Amen.

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