A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Matthew

“For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. “And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

(Matthew 25:14-30)

Bishop Conley’s Sunday Homily for Exodus Men

Brothers, we’ve all received talents. But what exactly are these talents? The most common interpretation is that they are natural abilities, qualities, or goods that God, in his abundant goodness, has given us. They may refer to something we are good at, or a material possession that has been entrusted to us. God has given these things to us with an eternal purpose. They can certainly aid us in making a living, but if they don’t acquire a supernatural light and purpose, if they’re not directed to God in some way, their reward will only be earthly.

Jesus told his disciples, “And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward” (Matthew 6:16). We can say the same about these talents: When they’re used only for ourselves, or for worldly purposes, their reward is that which they produce here in this world: maybe a higher income, maybe respect and admiration from others, perhaps self-assurance. But at the end of the day, they can leave us empty-handed before God if they weren’t transformed into supernatural offerings.

Brothers, the Lord wants everything in our lives to be supernatural. He wants all of our actions, thoughts, and desires to be transformed into those of Christ. There is no other way. St. Paul tells us, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29). We are to be “other Christs” in this world—that’s what it means to be a Christian. To live as true sons of God, we must become like the Son, in whom we’ve been adopted.

What can we learn from him? Everything Jesus did, before and during his public ministry, was a loving offering to the Father and done for the good of others. Even as a carpenter, in the secret of his workshop, every act of measuring, sawing, nailing, carving, was a pure offering most pleasing to the Father. And we can be sure he produced the most excellent pieces of furniture, for he put all his skill into every action before him. Our actions are called to carry a vertical axis that points our hearts to heaven, and a horizontal axis for the good of our neighbor out of love for God.

It is important to note that what matters most here is not necessarily the number of talents, but what we do with what we’ve received. It may seem that the Master of the parable is a cruel man if he only gives one talent to a servant and five and two talents to the others. Besides the fact that in Jesus’s time a talent was worth an enormous amount of money, if we look at the parable in terms of inequality, whether economic or natural, we will truly miss the point. There is no doubt that God, in his infinite wisdom, has given more natural qualities to some more than others. Perhaps you yourself have felt that you don’t have much to offer. Yet, more may not always mean better.

If we follow St. Thomas Aquinas’s interpretation, who borrows from certain Fathers of the Church, the five talents can represent the five senses, that is, material goods. The first servant multiplies material goods at the service of the Master. The two talents received by the second servant symbolize practical knowledge, or the ability to understand things and do something useful with them through one’s work. Lastly, Aquinas says that the one talent symbolizes contemplative knowledge. In this sense, this servant is called to be like Mary, who sat at the feet of Jesus, while her sister Martha worried about a hundred things. In this interpretation, receiving one talent is a privilege, since this servant has received “the only thing necessary,” the deepest out of all things, which is to contemplate the Lord and be at his feet. That’s how he’s called to multiply what he’s been given.

Though this servant has traditionally been associated with those in the contemplative or religious life, its logic can apply to any of us. Perhaps you feel you have not received many talents, many natural abilities, or goods—the Lord wants you to focus more on him. At times, our fault may be that we try to do more than the Lord has asked of us, even if we say we’re doing it for him. Perhaps at times he wants us to sit more at his feet and become more contemplative. Of course, we must put this in its proper context—we must still carry out the responsibilities entrusted to us. But why would these be opposed to each other?

Brothers, to conclude, it is true that the Lord is a demanding Master. He says, “Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required” (Luke 12:48). And St. Paul makes clear that God “will render to every man according to his works” (Romans 2:6). We cannot bury the little or much we have been given out of fear of the Last Day. We know clearly that much will be demanded of us. Yet, ironically, it is by putting these talents at work for his glory and the good of our neighbor that we begin living a supernatural life and partaking of heaven here on earth.

Let us ask the Lord to reveal to us what these talents are, brothers. And let us praise him by using them not merely for earthly purposes, but by making them spiritual sacrifices for his glory and the good of our neighbor.

Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus, you have given us a diversity of gifts that in one way or another show your greatness and generosity. Help us recognize what we have received so that we may use it for its ultimate purpose. May our good works become a song of thanksgiving pleasing to you. Give us the courage to always remember our neighbors and those in need, so that we may build up your kingdom on earth. Strengthen us so that we may not be overcome by fear, but instead learn to give of ourselves joyfully in preparation for the glorious Last Day. Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Bishop James D. Conley is the Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska, and the Spiritual Guide for Exodus 90’s Month of the Dead program started October 31st.