Talents for the unwise and humble

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today encourage us to consider our gifts and both our unworthiness to be called to live them fully and the mission we have been given to celebrate and multiply those very talents. “Good and faithful servant” is the title which the landowner addresses those who enter into the joy of the master after multiplying the master’s wealth and being given even more of the master’s gifts. The servant who fails to spread the riches of the master is identified as being evil and slothful. In his homily today, Fr Roberto points out some items which a quick reading of the Gospel of Matthew may not appreciate. The “talent” was a very large amount of gold. The generosity of God (landowner) is immeasurable. The servants are filled with as much as they can hold. (Different amounts for different people). The good and faithful ones enter into the joy of relationship with the Divine. The ones who live in fear of God or of breaking the “rules” risk not finding that intimacy and joy. The parable has perhaps been cited to encourage entrepreneurial activity and risk taking. Perhaps we like to see reward proportional to effort here but the only risk or decision which is required is to be open to the gifts of the Father and the invitation to intimacy which is the way these gifts are multiplied. The text by Paul from the Letter to the Corinthians reminds us that the unwise and the insignificant have been chosen to be the bearers of the Light. Our humility is requested and required to fully use the gifts which bring intimacy with the Divine.