The coming of Christ at the end of time entails on the part of each of us a reckoning of what we have done with all the gifts and opportunities given us in our lifetime. The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) illustrates the joy accompanying the final accounting of responsible stewards.
Invaluable gifts
What must have been originally Jesus’ parable addressed to the religious leaders of his time about their responsibility in guiding the people has become an allegorical lesson to the Christians themselves about the accounts they would have to settle with the Lord at his second coming. The Master following the ascension has entrusted his disciples with goods to be used profitably. A “talent” is a monetary unit of huge amount, equivalent to 6,000 denarii or drachmas. With a denarius as a day’s wage, a talent equals a lifetime’s earning. The servant who received 5 talents got enough income for several lifetimes.
The point is that the servants have been entrusted with invaluable gifts by their Master. Each received “according to his ability” enough capital to be made productive. Here we realize that Jesus has indeed entrusted to us gifts of incredible value: his Gospel, his sacraments, his own friends of outstanding merits like the saints including Mary his own mother, and above all his greatest gift of all, the Holy Spirit. What have we been doing with them? What have we accomplished with them and through them?
Good and faithful servants
When the Master returned and settled accounts with his servants, his joyous recognition of the accomplishment of his responsible servant rang out in his “Well done, my good and faithful servant!” Wherein lies the good work of the faithful one? “You were faithful in small matters”—It is fidelity to the obvious intention of the Master that his gifts be made productive and beneficial all around. Whatever good one may have received more can and should be made out of it. It is irresponsibility to deviate from this purpose of the owner. Hence the servant who did nothing but dig a hole in the ground and bury the talent he was left with, got from the Master the response: “You wicked, lazy servant… Throw this useless servant into the darkness outside!”
Yes, what have we been doing with the gifts entrusted to us? Have we enterprisingly made more goods? They clearly are not for one’s benefit only. The good they do me should be multiplied by benefiting others as well. What is for me is for others too. I am given them ahead of others so that I can be as conduit to them. The goods given the faithful are ministerial. They are not to be accumulated as though for one’s self solely, but rather to be husbanded and invested wisely and ingenuously to benefit as many as possible.
Alálaong bagá, in the final reckoning with us we face the challenging statement from our Master: “To everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow richer, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” The lazy servant, who earned nothing with what he has been entrusted with and who has no fruits of love and goodness to speak of, wasted and did not use the talent and the time given him; he claimed to be paralyzed by his own fear of the Master, and ended up with that capital for so much good being taken away from him. He was not invited to share his Master’s joy; he was thrown outside into the darkness of everlasting loneliness and regrets. In contrast, the eschatological glory is the “more” that the faithful, responsible servant will be given. For all the disciples who are wise and faithful stewards of the invaluable gifts entrusted to them, there can only be eternal treasures in the communion of life and love with the Master. The capital entrusted to them will even be doubled, and they will in fact become richer being asked to do more for more people and already now! The time before the return of the Lord is the time for active, fruitful waiting, rich with opportunities to become channels of grace to so many hungry for the divine love and mercy.
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