Reflection
To everyone who has, more will be given.
Matthew 25:14
The talents given to the three servants are not so much monetary gifts or personal capacities; they are a share in the mercy of God, a participation in the weightiness of the divine love. But since mercy is always directed to the other, these “talents” are designed to be shared. In point of fact, they will increase precisely in the measure that they are given away. The problem with the timid servant who buried his talent is not that he was an ineffective venture capitalist but that he fundamentally misunderstood the nature of what he had been given. The divine mercy received as a pure gift is meant to be given to others as a pure gift. Buried in the ground, that is to say, hugged tightly to oneself as one’s own possession, such a talent necessarily evanesces. And this is why the master’s seemingly harsh words should not be read as the punishment of an angry God but as an expression of spiritual physics: the divine mercy will grow in you only inasmuch as you give it to others.
Bishop Robert Barron
Prayer
May we share our giftedness with others.
Action
Consider how consistent how you act is with what you claim to believe.
Suggested Reading
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“A man going on a journey
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one–
to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.
Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,
and made another five.
Likewise, the one who received two made another two.
But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground
and buried his master’s money.
Matthew 25:14-30
For it is in giving that we receive.
Francis of Assisi
It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.
Mother Teresa
Follow your dreams and use your natural-born talents and skills to make this a better world for tomorrow.
Paul Watson
Use those talents you have. You will make it. You will give joy to the world. Take this tip from nature: The woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except those who sang best.
Bernard Meltzer
We can’t take any credit for our talents. It’s how we use them that counts.
Madeleine L’Engle
Mere talents does not give glory to God but a humble heart.
Mac Canoza
A job should employ God-given talents in a way that glorifies Him.
Marvin Olasky
In truth, we are all part of the team of humanity. And as such, we are all obligated to share ourselves, and our talents, for the sake of the team.
Yehuda Berg
Remember that our true purpose in life is to take care of one another. Our occupations are therefore tools for taking care of others using our natural talents.”
Ksenia Sein
Your purpose in life is to use your gifts and talents to help other people. Your journey in life teaches you how to do that.
Tom Krause
Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.
Leo Buscaglia
We are each given different gifts and talents by our Master. The thing that matters most is how we use what we have been given, not how much we make or do compared to someone else. What matters is that we spend ourselves.
Francis Chan
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’.
Erma Bombeck