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Question

Good morning, Father,

I think I have not understood the true meaning of the Parable of the Talents, from today’s Gospel.

In practice, does God predestine from birth who will have more spiritual gifts than others? That is, to one he gives 5, to another he gives 2 and to the third just 1?

Isn’t that practically some kind of “social injustice”? Is there anyone who was born luckier than others to go to heaven? And how to tell who got 5 and who got 1?

Among other things, the servant who received the least, restated to his master his being fearful and demanding. So regardless, is God, though merciful, also fearful and demanding?

Isn’t this some kind of contradiction in terms?

Thank you if you want to dispel these doubts of mine.

Thank you

Leonardo

Answer of the priest

Dear Leonardo,

1. First of all, it is necessary to know that Jewish talent was worth a lot. Between 150,000 and 200,000 euros.

If we keep in mind the little circulation of money that existed at that time, the master gave the servants a huge sum.

2. Also, what do those talents represent?

According to the Holy Fathers, who are the ancient spiritual authors, they represent the word of God.

And this is because the parable speaks twice of money and “money” – in Greek in the Gospel – is called “silver”.

Likewise, the word of God is also called silver: “The promises of the Lord are sure, silver refined in a crucible, silver purified seven times” (Ps 12:7).

Therefore, according to the Holy Fathers, talents are the word of God, which is a very precious good because it brings the Kingdom of God into the hearts of men and has the power to change lives and save.

3. Again according to the Holy Fathers, those who have received five and two talents represent the apostles and all those who have been heralds of the Gospel.

After having “tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come” (Heb 6: 5), they spread it throughout the earth.

Here are the traded talents.

4. He who received only one talent and buried it in a hole would represent the Jewish people who were afraid that the promises would be distributed to all men.

5. The sacred text says that the talents were distributed to each according to their ability.

It may seem that there is a different treatment, but this is not the case if we keep in mind that the reward is the same: “Come, share your master’s joy” (Mt 25:21).

6. Of course, the interpretation of the Holy Fathers is not the only one.

Talents can also be understood as all the good qualities that a person inherits from mother nature and receives from grace.

But all the same things add up if you think about the equality of the reward.

7. So – although no one in himself has the right to have certain talents and cannot even claim to enter into the eternal joy of the Lord – the Lord does not make preferences.

Just as St. Peter was able to observe when he said: “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34).

Therefore, from what has been said and since everything is free, it is out of place to speak of a damage of social justice.

8. Finally, the master does not recognize that he is demanding.

He simply points out to his interlocutor that precisely because he had thought of his master in this way, he had to act accordingly.

It would have cost him so little to put the talent in the bank to get it back with interest even if he hadn’t traded it.

8. Leaving aside metaphor, bringing the talent that God has given us to the bank means welcoming sanctifying grace because everything that is done in God’s grace is meritorious for oneself and at the same time is meritorious for the whole Church and humanity.

Hiding the very precious talent of grace therefore means taking away the good of Heaven from oneself and it also means taking away so much precious energies from the Church.

This is why the master says to him: “You wicked, lazy servant!”.

With the hope that you will be welcomed by the Lord with the consoling promise: “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy” (Mt 25:21), I assure you of my prayers and I bless you.

Father Angelo

Translated by Chiara P.