Today's Gospel: Matthew 25 Parable of the Talents

[jcrichton]

How did we get to a discussion on the exchange rate of a talent? When it comes down to it isn’t that irrelevent when the important thing is to use what God gives us to give increase to Him?

Hi, CWBetts!

You are correct, the most important issue is that we are to use the Gifts that God has determined us to have for the spiritual growth of both the individual and the Church.

I apologize if my curiosity has derailed the theme.

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[graceandglory]

We covered this in class, too.

GraceAndGlory, what bible translation are you using? The one given to us RCIA students was the New Catholic Answer Bible which uses the NAB translation.

I suppose Wikipedia says it best: the parable is about “… diligence in carrying out one’s responsibilities is essential for more important tasks in the future.”

George C:

I have that one too!

I am going from whatever scripture translation is in the Missal and I also looked it up online.

Thanks!

This is still my only good Catholic bible, (I still have one from 1973 though, I will never get rid of…) I hope to get an Ignatius Study Bible someday.

 

[graceandglory]

…so if you concern yourself with gaining wealth and health in exchange for serving the Lord with the talents you’ve been given… I think that you might just be setting yourself up for failure…

Actually, quite the opposite.
That’s why I felt particularly “condemned” by last weeks Gospel.

I have spent myself out in service, not to brag, but it just is what I love to do. I feel called to my own little ministry. I want to pour myself into my own children, and into the ministries I’m personally involved in.

As a single woman, though, I haven’t got much stored up financially for my financial future. I never really thought of it. That’s why I got tripped up by last week’s gospel. Today I think about what I could do to earn a living when I’m old. I could possibly work in a retirement home taking care of retired priests and nuns.

That gospel read literally makes me feel guilty that I haven’t invested properly or worked instead of staying home with my kids. I was thinking of the present, and what I could do in the present for my children, when maybe I should have been planning for my future.

I have been concerned in my life that I tend to be so heavenly minded I’m of no earthly good.

 

[jcrichton]

Has anyone pondered that Jesus calls the third servant wicked and lazy? What did he do that was so wicked? Nothing!

It’s hard to fathom, but when you look at the three parables that Jesus tells in Matthew 25, the 10 virgins, the Parable of the Talents, and the Sheep and the Goats, the Master/King punishes each group for sins of omission - in other words, not doing anything for others.

That’s scary.

I think it has to do with evation of responsibility… the 5 virgins that brought the lamps without the oil reserve had not concerned themselves with being prepared for the unknown events that could delay the bridegroom; the wicked and lazy servant was an excellent judge of his master but chose to ignore what was expected of him and simply squandered the time away; the goats fixated their efforts on knowing the letter of the Law but only performed those tasks that brought them notoriety while ignoring those that would seem only as a heavy burden… compare with Jesus declaration that not all who call Him Lord, Lord… but those who do the Will of the Father, and view it under the scope of: “if you love Me you would obey my Commandment.”

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[jcrichton]

Actually, quite the opposite.
That’s why I felt particularly “condemned” by last weeks Gospel.

I have spent myself out in service, not to brag, but it just is what I love to do. I feel called to my own little ministry. I want to pour myself into my own children, and into the ministries I’m personally involved in.

As a single woman, though, I haven’t got much stored up financially for my financial future. I never really thought of it. That’s why I got tripped up by last week’s gospel. Today I think about what I could do to earn a living when I’m old. I could possibly work in a retirement home taking care of retired priests and nuns.

That gospel read literally makes me feel guilty that I haven’t invested properly or worked instead of staying home with my kids. I was thinking of the present, and what I could do in the present for my children, when maybe I should have been planning for my future.

I have been concerned in my life that I tend to be so heavenly minded I’m of no earthly good.

Hi, graceandglory!

…sorry I misunderstood…

…this might cheer you up… Mom worked tiredlessly for the better part of her life (no money); she also kept another full-time job: she was a Third Order Franciscan (sponsored a few people from among her friends); organized hundreds of prayer meets as a member of the Legion of Mary; was known around all the local parishes as the Nun?/lady who is always praying; served as the local Pastor needed her in the Holy Mass services; was a Catechist for several years; took part of dozens of retreats (always sponsoring others); got a whole bunch of family members and close friends through the Sacraments of Marriage, Baptism, Communion and Confirmation (sponsored, provided moneys, clothing, physically brought them to the classes…); she was also a Extraordinay Minister of the Eucharist; attended Mass on a daily basis (sometimes several times a day); I cannot recall a single day when she was not at some prayer meeting either at the local Parish, funeral or private home…

She is still pennyless, but she just hit 91 this Tuesday… there are hundreds of people that became active Catholics due to her efforts… she is still concerned that she is not able to do more for Christ’s Body!

Remember Jesus’ admonishion, do not worry about tomorrow, rely on the Father’s Providence!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[graceandglory]

She is still pennyless, but she just hit 91 this Tuesday… there are hundreds of people that became active Catholics due to her efforts… she is still concerned that she is not able to do more for Christ’s Body!

Remember Jesus’ admonishion, do not worry about tomorrow, rely on the Father’s Providence!

Thank you, Angel, for sharing this story.
I want to be like her.
To think I have 50 more yrs to go.
That is the kind of legacy I want to leave behind.

 

[jcrichton]

Thank you, Angel, for sharing this story.
I want to be like her.
To think I have 50 more yrs to go.
That is the kind of legacy I want to leave behind.

Thank you for your kind words… it seems to me that you are well on your way; just continue to allow your zeal to serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, be the measure with which you gauge your success–only when we become complasant and self-serving do we fail to live up to Christ’s expectations!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[CTDeMoss]

Yes, it has been quite a while since I’ve been on the forum. Generally I stop by and catch a few comments and read a few notes and I’m on my way without logging in.
I came in today looking for some ideas for my CCD class. I teach a seventh grade and was hoping to find some new/additional material for my class this weekend. BTW a, it worked out pretty well too, I have read a lot of the posting, and on the advice of a reply, went to Fr. Barron’s YouTube and listen to his podcast on on the Parable of the Talents. I now have more material and hope that it will be blessed and use well for my students…

 

[Xeyed818]

I don’t get it.

To me, this Gospel sounds like it really is speaking of being wise and shrewd with your money, being a good employee, being a good steward, and investing.

I am a poor person. College educated, and a hard worker, but life has dealt me many blows, and as a single mom, I put everything toward my children, and I don’t have any investments. I could have much more accumulation on this earth, but I chose to stay home to raise my children and home school. Now I’m single, middle aged, and have nothing invested. I’ve lived a lot of years but I don’t think I have anything tangible to show for it.

I feel very condemned when I read this reading.
This is where Sola Scriptura can really get sticky.
Only I’m not Sola Scriptura anymore, but I’m Catholic.

I know that my understanding isn’t the end product, but we seek to understand through the Church’s lens.

What is the Catholic understanding of this parable?

These are the two options I’ve heard that resonate with me:

1. Bullinger, in the Companion Bible, suggests that Jesus may have meant the first line as a question, “Do I say…?” Because that’s the only way he could see that made the following verses (after the parable) make sense.
2. Another source suggested that the Entity speaking is the ‘Prince of the Air’ of this world; the Serpent who took over by deceiving Eve and who is ‘reaping where he has not sown’.

Jesus spoke along the lines of:

Luke 6:30 - Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

I always thought ‘talent’ was interesting as sometimes words have more than one meaning in Biblical text. What if some of our ‘talents’ come from the Prince of this world through the ‘apple’? If we would refuse to use them, then we’d make him mad while under the Law - not a good thing. But if we make use of talents/abilities given until we are Saved, then Christ can sanctify them and we can then use them as ‘instruments of His Peace’; restoration of His Kingdom. What was meant for harm can be turned for Good.

Just thoughts along the way…

 

[Nelka]

The three men have different expectations, the first two lived up to it whereas the third couldn’t be bothered.