The parable of talents

[patrick457]

Why don’t we re-review the parable to refresh our minds?

"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

For - just like a man going abroad called his own slaves, and handed over to them his property; and to one he gave five talanta, but to another two, but to another one, to each according to his own ability. And he went abroad immediately.

The one who had received the five talanta, having gone, traded with them and made five more. Likewise the one who had the two gained two more; but the one who received the one, having gone away, dug in the earth and hid his lord’s silverlings.

Now after a long time comes the lord of those slaves and settles accounts with them, and the one who had received the five talanta, having come, brought other five talanta, saying, “Lord, five talanta you handed over to me. See, I have gained five more talanta.” And his lord was saying to him, “Well done, good and faithful slave! In a few things you were being faithful; over many things I will put you in charge. Enter into the joy of your lord!”

And the one with the two talanta, having come, said, “Lord, two talanta you handed over to me. See, I have gained two more talanta.” His lord was saying to him, “Well done, good and faithful slave! In a few things you were being faithful, over many things I will put you in charge. Enter into the joy of your lord!”

Now the one also who has received the one talanton, having come, said, “Lord, I knew you, that you are a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering from where you did not scatter; and having been afraid, having gone away, I hid your talanton in the earth. See, you have what is yours!” And his lord, answering, said to him, "Evil slave, and lazy, you had known that I harvest where I did not sow, and I gather from where I did not scatter! You should have then put my money with the bankers, and having come I would have received my own with interest!

“Take away therefore from him the talanton*, and give to him having the ten* talanta*, for to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even that which he has will be taken away from him. And throw the useless slave out into the outer darkness; in that place will be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth.*”

 

[vz71]

God gives us huge gifts with the sacraments.

Are we going to be like the first two and make use of these gifts to our best advantage or are we going to be like the last one and let it sit idle?

 

[Veridical16]

Congratulations. You have succeeded in giving me scrupulosity. I am going to sit alone and worry about all this now. Instead of inventing, I’m going to worry . What did you think was going to happen?

You blasted stupid people.

I don’t know if you’ll see this.
You need not be scrupulous about it, Joseph Kemp.

IT is about talents, and time we give to God. Any opportunity & time you give to God is good.
Your posts seem like you have some guilt, which you shouldn’t, perhaps your creativity helps you express yourself & God expects you in combination with that talent to edify, something else that you may give & share with neighbor, it doens’t mean you have to publish your writing.
One can still put a creative talent subtly for themselves, and build a good work ethic, that translate to other time & opportunities one can give glory to God to, in this world.

but I think if someone had a Mozart, or Michelangelo like talent, and never bothered to share it with the world, they would be pretty wasteful. In addition to that the parable is also about sloth & lack of diligence & courage. That you enjoy writing, and complete things, wouldn’t necessarily mean, you have to share that with the world. It could however mean it can inspire you to do other things for the glory of God.

Conversely, people who use their talents and exploit them and abuse them for themselves, and use it for worldly gain, would be included in this parable too. They squandered it, but without glorifying God, with no spiritual merit they could have used to give glory to God & good will to men.

You shouldn’t be annoyed by people who see the parable for what it is. Others have pointed out that , the Church is pretty clear, multiple times.

youtube.com/watch?v=S8wPLstL9LQ

Here is a good homily, from the Franciscan Friars, Fr. Dominic. It should be more assuring. It basically reiterates. Sloth is a sin.
As for talents/opportunity – it would be terrible if individuals who had the brains, able courage, to become doctors, & police men, and governors, sit around and not have the drive and the will to be these things morally, for love of neighbor.

This parable shouldn’t be difficult for people, it is merely a reminder that our time is short, and we shouldn’t be idle. Like St. James said,

• ’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. '*

If you finish your work and that creativity, invention inspires you to be diligent and happy, good, but let that give you time to set aside for God, and you’ll be able to discern how you can Love God & neighbor.
if you start with God first, you’ll know whether or not you have to share any of that creativity. You might have another talent of yours that God might expect from you that is simpler, giving prayers, sacrifices and good will toward neighbor.

 

[Veridical16]

The meaning of the word talents in this passage refers to a specific amount of money in that culture, as in the sense of money being entrusted to someone with a fiduciary duty to not only preserve the principal but invest it for growth. It does not refer to the word we use in English today to mean personal aptitudes or proficiencies. That wealth or treasure so entrusted as in all the kingdom parables that speak of treasure–the pearl of great price for instance–refers to the treasure of the gift of salvation we have been given, of which we become sharers in our baptism, and which we are supposed to invest through good works and evangelization to help do our part to bring about the growth of the Kingdom.

No–respectfully I still think that’s too broad and general of a conclusion. That the Greek word and cultural context referred to some monetary function/unit (Latin too), does not negate the point and context of the parable Jesus was using as a whole. (There is a reason why Talent derives from these roots, hence Tim pointed out the Catechism 1880, 1936-1937, which do refer to talents and proficiencies)
I don’t think the parable is selective and confined to just being about an investing for the church.
This would be taking too much of a literalistic approach and too much adherence to historical context,
Pope Benedict has taught and warned us recently, that while the lens of context of language (historical audience) is good (prevents superficial interpretations without context) that trend from some contemporary scholars can go too far, we must not forget the transcendent quality of the words from the Holy Spirit in scripture transcends any “cultural boundary” or audience at the time.

Compare this parable to the other parables. When Jesus talks they aren’t confined to just the farm & kingship scenarios and specifics of terminologies. People understand them their transcendent meaning. So too, this parable.
This clearly is about sloth, and not using the gifts we are expected to use, and that God places into our hands when we are brought into this world from the womb and invests in us from Baptism.
I don’t think the parable is selective and confined to just being about overall investing of the gift of salvation for the church. It seems to be about Jesus’ knowing the numbers of all our hairs as we are all made to contribute in this world.
Bishop Fulton Sheen, talks about in one of his episodes of Life is Worth Living, how God gives some of us more energy, sufficient grace to do more, vs some of us who have less energy from sufficient grace; which relates to the three dudes having varying investments as well as the Lord’s words, " to whom much is given…"

For instance, say that I have invented a device that can suck water out of the air and provide enough clean water for 200-300 people. Wouldn’t this device be invaluable to many of the drought-stricken areas of Africa and Asia?

That’s a good point.

I don’t think Jesus is talking of our talent to write or to sing. I believe Jesus is speaking of the talent to teach others, or to be able to solve problems that will help others.

I think a talent to sing or write, or anything artistic is included with talents of compassion & peace making in God’s parable. Can you imagine, the great Catholic artists if they neglected to paint, like Michelangelo? or even on a small scale an unknown sculptor for a local parish today, who is commissioned to make the statue of our Blessed Mother, never bothered to cultivate that skill, therefore a brilliant statue of our blessed mother is not there? The art & famous paintings that helps parishioners to contemplate on our Lord’s passion. Those things are pleasing to God, and therefore, if someone had to skill to do so, and sat on it, and potentially left a parish without the best kind of heights God gave, I’d say the warning of the parable applies.

In light of this it seems the parable is transcendent in referring to all talent & time we could put use in edifying God & his creation as creatures.
It seems Jesus is talking about all talents. What are we? But fallen men from original sin? Who now have a chance from the work of the cross to redeem that fallen nature by cooperating with God’s grace, and restoring in ourselves that ability to be stewards of his creation, by lending our abilities to him and neighbor.

Anything that is pleasing to God, or that we have the potential to please him should be considered.
Even in a worldly scale a talent used in whatever field that is not against God may also be pleasing and the use of that can be used as good will toward neighbor. To neglect a skill, or talent, probably is neglecting God forming them in you in the womb. Even in poetry to highlight beauty, it would still be man’s way of glorifying God, and acknowledging his truths, and ourselves as a creature, made in his likeness, who make use of his creation, as a tribute to God and his glory–even if inadvertently. Of course for them to be meritorious in Heaven, one would still need grace in the works.
Nevertheless, I think God sees the talents even used by people who have not turned to him fully, and can bring about some good from them.

Man was made to work, and to be diligent.