another servant, and one talent to a third, to each, according to his ability; and he went away.
He who received five talents went at once to do business with the talents, and gained another
five. The one who received two talents did the same, and gained another two. But the one who
received one talent dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. After a long time, the
master of those servants returned and asked for a reckoning. The one who had received five
talents came with another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you entrusted me with five talents, but see,
I have gained five more.’ The master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, since you
have been faithful in a few things, I will entrust you in charge of many things. Come and share
the joy of your master.’ Then the one who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you
entrusted me with two talents; with them I have gained two more.’ The master said, ‘Well done,
good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in little things, I will entrust you in charge
of many things. Come and share the joy of your master.’ Finally, the one who had received one
talent came and said, ‘Master, I know that you are a hard man. You reap what you have not
sown, and gather what you have not scattered. I was afraid, so I hid your money in the ground.
Here, take what is yours!’ But his master replied, ‘Wicked and worthless servant, you know that
I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered. You should have
deposited my money in the bank, and given it back to me with interest on my return. Therefore,
take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten. For to all those who have, more
will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who are unproductive, even
what they have will be taken from them. As for that useless servant, throw him out into outer
darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
READ: The first reading is part of a poem praising a “woman of worth,” a woman to
be emulated by all. In his first Letter to the Thessalonians, Paul continues to prepare
his readers for the second coming of Christ, encouraging them to remain prepared
since Christ will come at an unknown day and hour. The Gospel recounts the parable
of the talents in which the servants are judged by how well they use the resources
their master left in their care.
REFLECT: Today’s readings are very challenging. They set such high standards for
us. The poem of the woman of worth describes a woman so skilled and holy that it
seems almost impossible to follow her example. And the Gospel raises anxiety about
whether we are making good use of the talents our master has given us. But we
should not let that anxiety prevent us from acting. That is the mistake that the third
servant made. Afraid that he would lose his single talent if he invested it, he instead
hid it away. We do the same when we fail to use our talents because we are afraid
that we will not be good enough.
PRAY: Lord, help me to use my talents in your service.
ACT: Take an honest inventory of how you are using your talents.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023