Today’s gospel from Matthew 25: 14-30 is about stewardship and accountability. We all are stewards of the gifts God gives us. Like the servants in the parable, we are given talents “each according to [our] ability.” And like the servants in the parable, we are accountable to God for how we use our talents.
In the New Testament a talent was a huge amount of money. One talent was equal to seventy-five pounds of gold. So, if an ounce of gold equals US$1,284.95 today, a talent is worth about US$1, 541,940. Clearly, the master trusted his servants. And two of the servants proved him correct, by providing a significant return on his investment. However, the third servant was a major disappointment. Imagine being entrusted with so much and then burying it in the backyard like a dog’s bone.
This is where the idea of stewardship comes in. Stewardship is “the use of God given resources for the accomplishment of God given goals.” God doesn’t coerce us. God does not look over our shoulders. God gives us talents, and then leaves the talents in our hands, waiting to see if we will be faithful.
God’s goal is for us to bring about the Kingdom of Heaven. We do this by loving God, serving others and by supporting God’s work with the gifts God gives us. St. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:10, “as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace.” Then, on the day of judgement, St. Paul tells us in Romans 14:12 that “each of us shall give an account of himself (to God).”
Next week we celebrate The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, the end of our liturgical year. And in our final gospel from St Matthew for three years, Jesus gives us the criteria by which God will judge us on the day of the Last Judgement. In the meantime, today’s second reading from 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, reminds us that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night.” And, that we need to “stay alert and sober.” We do not know when the Lord is returning, but we had better be ready so we can share our Master’s joy.
Into our hands, O generous God,
you have entrusted many graces and blessings.
Give us the wisdom to multiply your gifts
and make us industrious and vigilant
as we await your Son’s return.
May we rejoice to hear him call us
“good and faithful servants”
as we enter into the joy of your kingdom.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
AMEN.
