The whole point of this lengthy gospel parable is that Jesus expects us to do something for the salvation of the world. What we do is determined by our own talents, not only our God-given abilities, as the word suggests, but also our treasures. Historically, talents were units of money in biblical times. Eventually, the word came to mean those abilities within us that enable us to earn money, such as those that enable the artist to create art that sells.
This gospel passage is a wake up call. Are we using our talents responsibly? Not just those skills and natural abilities we have, but also our financial resources. God gives us both. We are all blessed to some degree, some more than others, as were the servants in today’s parable.
Some of you have greater wealth than others in our midst who can barely make ends meet. Still, there is not a single person here who is utterly destitute.
How we use our talents doesn’t depend on the balance in our checking account, but on how readily we trust that God will be there to take care of us in our need. So long as there is an element of fear, we remain reluctant, as was the third servant, to use what we have responsibly.
How responsible have we been when it comes to building up the kingdom of God? I suspect a fair number of “would be” disciples in our midst take the same minimalist approach as the reluctant servant did when it comes to handling their talents. For whatever reason, they are unwilling to invest
what they have to build up the kingdom of God. Some may argue that the parish doesn’t need “my hard earned money.”
Or “I have nothing worthwhile to contribute,” or “What I can afford to give of my treasure and talent wouldn’t make any difference anyway.”
I beg to differ. What you give would make a big difference not only to the parish but also to you.
I can see why some give little or nothing to the parish. I read recently that 49% of American families don’t pay their bills on time, 65% don’t do a good job of staying out of debt, 65% don’t balance their checkbooks, 82% don’t adequately save for their future needs, and that poor financial management is a significant cause for divorces.
It seems that many people struggle with stewardship, not only when it comes to supporting their parish, but also when it comes to their personal finances as well.
Good stewardship is crucial to our spiritual and emotional well being. All of us are called to a spirit of generosity with our gifts of treasure and talent.
One who doesn’t share is known as a miser, and as Charles Dickens made clear in his classic, The Christmas Carol, a miser is not a happy person. Conversely, we all know people who share generously of their resources. They are usually happy and at peace with themselves. Happiness comes from sharing, from being generous, and from using our finances for the sake of something greater than one’s self, for example, building up the kingdom of God.
We often give to a need, and we do so generously, but something few of us realize is our need to give. I speak on stewardship, not for the sake of this parish, but primarily for the sake of its parishioners. Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”
Instead of approaching life with a “me-first” mentality, Jesus often urges us to live life with an attitude of gratitude. And we do that best by living a life of stewardship. The first step would be making a pledge. Think of it as a planned gift to be given each week. Like the other essentials in your family budget, such as food, mortgage payments, and utilities, this gift shouldn’t be seen as an after thought, but as a priority.
Secondly, give proportionately, that is, in light of how you have been blessed. Instead of giving the same amount of money as you did last year, give the same percentage of your income. Consider using the biblical notion of tithing.
Many people give five percent to the parish and five percent to other charities, such as the Annual Catholic Appeal. Make your gift sacrificial. It then becomes a gift that you are proud to give as a present to the Lord in gratitude for all that you have received. If five percent of your income is too much of a sacrifice to make now, then think about giving 2% or 4% to the parish.
The servant who buried his master’s money in the ground condemned himself with his own words, for he knew that he would be held accountable. “I knew that you were a demanding person.” He was punished, not because of how he managed the funds but because he did not take his responsibilities seriously enough.
Hopefully we are taking our responsibilities seriously. By virtue of our baptism we are expected to build up the kingdom of God by using our talents and treasures. Live a life of stewardship and someday you will hear those beautiful words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”