Talents and The Mercy of God

Jesus told his disciples this parable: 

"A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one– to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money.

After a long time, the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.' Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.' 

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.'His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant!

So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'"

A talent was not what we would call a small amount of money. It was a huge amount, more than the vast majority would be able to earn in two lifetimes. So, when the master decides to go on a journey he makes the further decision that he will entrust to his servants some of his treasure so that while he is gone it won't just be sitting there gathering dust. Each of them was bestowed based on the master's perception of the talent that he believed that the servant possessed. He goes on his extended trip and when he returns he settles accounts with his servants. He congratulates the first two because they doubled his money but the third, who was not very bright in public relations first blames the master for being a harsh man that would punish people who would lose or despoil his property. Fearing for his health, this servant just put the treasure in a safe place and returned it to the master once he returned.. The master got his stuff back and nothing more. The master was upset and after giving the treasure to the first servant he threw the third servant out in the cold where he assumed a life of weeping and gnashing of teeth.

There is more to this story than meets the eye. The master is, of course, God who is rich in mercy and He bestows it to His Children. We are to go out into the world and extend mercy to others. If we do this, we please the Master who will have even more mercy on us. If we, as the wicked servant accept the mercy of God and do not share and give it away, then the mercy God has bestowed on us will be taken away and we will be cut off, thrown out into the cold where we will weep and gnash our teeth. What? No teeth you say, worry not, teeth will be provided!

What we receive from God cannot be kept for our own us alone, it has to be given away so that it will bear fruit. When we do this more will be given to us and we will please the Lord by sharing with even more of His Children.

Please remember the poor souls in Purgatory. Every Saturday I will be listing the names of some people who have recently died. Please pray for them. I do not claim any knowledge as to if they are in Purgatory or not. If they are there, the prayers will benefit them. If not, your prayers will benefit another poor soul. Thank you!