This is a parable that because of the terminology in it is hard to understand. We see the word talents and the number of talents, but if we do not understand what a talent is and what is the value of one, the parable loses much of its force. So let us begin with the basic questions. What is a talent. According to the Sacra Pagina series, a talent was 15 years worth of salary. Now if you figure the shorter life expectancy at the time, then you can assume that this was the salary for pretty much most of the average man’s working years or at least a large part of it. So we are talking a huge amount of money that no person could ever expect to repay. This plays a huge role in this parable. Now, if we take that figure and translate it to today’s money, we can have a better idea of this parable. If we assume a salary that is around the low side of the average scale at $40,000 (R$ 70.000) then one talent is $600,000 (R$1,050,000). Therefore, the first person receives $3,000,000. (R$5,250,000) The second person receives $1,200,000 (R$2,100,000) and the third receives $600,000 (R$105.000)

So you see, in today’s money, we are talking huge figures. Now, look at the second issue: burying the money. Burying money was not only the way to ensure its safety, if by chance it was stolen and you were assigned to oversee the money, you would not be liable for the loss. So the man who buries the money was actually insuring himself against a loss from which he could not recover. Notice how he describes the man who hands him the money to invest. “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.’ I knew you were a demanding person,harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; does that not say that indeed, the master would have held each man liable for every loss. Hence, the reason why the man was afraid. Wouldn’t you be?

When it is time for the accounting, notice several things. First the master does not lose any money at all. Further, he makes a huge gain, literally on two of the three investments he gets a one hundred percent return on his money. So now, when he returns he is handed a total of $6,000,000. (R$10,500,000) + $2,400,000 (R$4,200,000) for a total of $8,400,000 (R$14,700,000). Remember this is not in any form of paper, this is actual gold and silver, hard currency. Then he receives the original $600,000 (R$1,050,000) So that day, he receives in hard currency $9,000,000 (R$15,750,000). Yet, he still grows viciously angry when he does not have a return on his original investment from the third person. Notice what he calls him: a useless, wicked, lazy lout.

What is Jesus saying to us.

Reflecting on this, I would ask you to consider this. You are not St. Francis, but that does not give you the excuse to be any less a servant of God. If we turn around and say that the Lord did not invest us with a heroic amount of holiness as we see in the saints, that does not give us a reason to live not holiness to the fullness of our ability in His grace, regardless of circumstances.

We too cannot repay the gift entrusted to us, but that does not give us the right hid this gift. Each of us have a call to holiness to the level of our ability and our holiness much bear fruit in this world. We cannot live oiur faith with the understanding that our holiness must be good enough to get us in Heaven, without it opening the doors to others seeking Christ as well.

What is your situation in life, and how can you live it to the level of holiness to which you are called. Only you can fully answer your question. But

If you are not praying and seeking to grow in prayer, you are burying for gift of holiness.

If you are not living the liturgical life of the Church, you are burying your gift of holiness.

If you are not seeking to go beyond the minimum, you are burying your gift of holiness.

If you are not evaluating your life and seeking to improve on your witness to Christ, you are burying your gift of holiness.

If you are not participating in the sacraments, which include reconciliation and when applicable marriage you are burying your gift of holiness.

If you are living less than what the teachings of the Church call us to, you are burying your gift of holiness.

Each of these are difficult in one sense, but remember Jesus calls us to remember that He is like a difficult master who reaps what he does not sow, and harvests what he does not plant.

However, when we participate in His gift, we are rewarded with sharing in His joy. His joy is found not only in us, but in others who also join God’s kingdom because of us.

Now, in this last Sunday we celebrate in green for this year, may look at ourselves in preparation for Advent in two weeks and ask, where do we need to grow in the grace of God? Where do we need to be stronger in holiness? Where do we need to bear more fruit? And bring the answer to our reflection to Christ in search for His grace to change our lives.

Let us seek the reward that is waiting us by asking the Lord to grace us with the wisdom to give Him a return on his investment in us. That we too may share our master’s joy.

God Bless You.

Fr. Robert J Carr

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