Thought for the Day – 9 August – The Parsble of the Talents

Thought for the Day – 9 August – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Parable of the Talents

“Let us meditate on the parable concerning the talents.
A lord was preparing to go abroad and before he departed he called together his servants.
He distributed his assets among them in proportion to their abilities, giving five talents to the first, two to the second and one to the third.

After a long time, the master returned and asked his servants to render an account of the money entrusted to them
Those who had received respectively, the five and the two talents, returned the capital to their lord along with the profits which they had made, so that, in fact, each was able to hand back double the sum originally entrusted to him.
Their master praised their fidelity and zeal and rewarded them more handsomely than they could ever have expected.

Finally, the man who had received only one talent approached and said, “Master, I know that thou art a stern man; thou reapest where thou hast not sowed and gatherest where thou hast not winnowed and, as I was afraid, I went away and hid the talent in the earth. Behold thou hast what is thine. The master’s reply was stern. Wicked and slothful servant. Thou didst know that I reap where I do not sow and gather where I have not winnowed! Thou shouldst, therefore, have entrusted my money to the bankers and on my return, I should have received back my own with interest. Take away, therefore, the talent from him and …. cast him forth into the darkness outside, where there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth” (Cf Mt 25:14-30).

The meaning of this parable is clear.
We are all servants, to whom our heavenly Father has entrusted various talents.
Some have been given more than others.
By our own labour and industry, we must all make profitable use of the talents which we have received.
The ungrateful and slothful servant, who does not make good use of his talents, will be severely punished.
But a happy reward awaits the good and faithful servant, who has worked zealously all his life, for his Master’s interests until the talents which he has received, have produced an increase of sanctity in himself and in others.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci