In Jesus’ parable from today’s gospel reading in Matthew, we are given examples of what to do and what not to do with the gifts that God has given to us. Although the word talent in the parable is used to mean a large amount of gold, the same word is used in the English language to convey gifts or what we generally refer to as talents such as musical talent or a gifted person who has many talents.

Jesus’ parable shows that all three slaves feared their master, but only two of them also loved their master. This is seen in the actions by the two who took their talents given to them by their master and then doubled them while their master was away. When their master returned, he was well pleased with their loyal and faithful service that they had given to them by their diligence and hard work. However, the master was greatly displeased with the slave whom he had given only one talent for this slave hid his gift and did not increase it like it his peers.

By using Aesop’s fable of “The Miser”, David Flusser, Professor Emeritus at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, actually helps us to unwrap the meaning of the slave who hid the one talent his master gave him. For those unfamiliar with this fable the story goes like this:

A miser sold all his property and bought a mass of gold, which he buried in a secret place to which he made frequent visits of inspection.  Someone who had noticed his coming and going found the treasure and carried it off, and when the miser returned and discovered his loss he wailed and tore his hair in a frenzy of grief. Someone who saw him agonizing, after learning the cause, said to him, “Don’t grieve, my friend, just take a stone and bury it in the same place and think of it as gold in a vault. Even when the gold was there you made no use of it.”

Flusser explains, “In both stories an untimely precaution seduces a man to bury his own property in a hiding place in the ground, and in both cases the action results in disaster.”

The scriptures teach us that the Holy Spirit as He so chooses gives gifts to every person who is a believer in Christ. St. Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians,

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.”

Haven’t heard your gift yet? In St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, Paul gives more instruction on the gifts of the Spirit. From the Amplified Bible we read,

“Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith;

 [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching;

 He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness.”

Like the slaves in Jesus’ parable, some of us may have been given many gifts, some a few, while some only one. It is not the number of gifts that are given to us that is important. What is important is what we choose to do with the gifts or gift we are given. Every gift from the Holy Spirit has been given to help in the furtherance of the kingdom of God. One day each of us will be held accountable for all that the Holy Spirit has entrusted to us.

If we have used our gifts well then our reward will be great, but if we have neglected the gift or gifts from the Holy Spirit then we will have to face the consequences of our negligence. In Jesus’ parable, Matthew writes,

“After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents.”

While the actions of the master toward the slave who hid his talent may seem harsh to us, Jesus is quite clear in his own interpretation of his parable that living our lives for the kingdom of God is a most serious matter. Jesus tells His disciples,

“For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.”

There is much at stake. Too many lives will not be helped or changed if each of us does not pull our own weight and use whatever has been given to us for the spreading of the gospel. Jesus demands complete dedication and passion from His followers. Anything less is more of a hindrance than a help in reaching souls for Christ. It is the faithful servants who will enter into the joy of the Lord. When our time of accountability comes and we stand before the Lord Jesus Christ may we hear the words “Well done” from our Master.