Mt. 25: 14-30
The past two weeks were marked by the events connected to the U.S. presidential election. In the recent past, no other election received such global attention. Till the last moment, there was this amusement about who will presidency? Anyhow, the citizens of America made their choice for Mr. Joe Biden, as their 46th President. At this historical moment, Mr. Biden was elected; there was a heartwarming response to His victory by Mr. Van Jones, who is the political correspondent of CNN news agency. While reporting this news, he was moved by his emotions and said the following words: “Well it’s easier to be a parent this morning. It’s easier to be a dad this morning. It’s easier to tell your kids, ‘Character matters, being a good person matters, and it’s easier for a whole lot of people. If you’re Muslim in this country, you don’t have to worry that the president doesn’t want you here. If you’re an immigrant, you don’t have to worry if the president is happy your baby has been snatched away or send dreamers back for no reason. This is vindication for a lot of people who really have suffered. ‘I can’t breathe.’ That was not just George Floyd. There were a lot of people who felt like they couldn’t breathe…” It is Vince Lombardi who opined: “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any good that is worthwhile.”
It is Augustine who said: “what I was, it was God’s gift to me and what I will be it is my gift to God.” What we are and the talents that we possess is a gift from God. What is our response to these gifts? In today’s world, we see varied expressions concerning one’s attitude towards these gifts. Most people make use of these talents responsibly keeping in mind their fraternal responsibility towards their brethren, then we are building our own character and glorifying God who created us. Whereas a person who is not generous enough to make use of his/her talents remain as self-centered and failing to co-operate with God to become what God intended that person to be.
In the gospel passage, we see two attitudes towards the gift of talents that God had gifted to individuals. The Parable presents the fact that these talents are not given in the same measure. One received five talents, another two, and the third person a single talent. Why there is a difference in these given talents? We don’t have an answer. However, the fact is that all of us are gifted with talents. Anyhow, its measure and potentials vary from person to person. None of us possess the same physical and biological features so our talents too. They are the unique gift of God to each person.
The second aspect is that our attitude towards the gift of talents. The parable enlightens us with the fact that all the three characters or individuals are aware of the fact that it is freely given, they did not merit it. Therefore they have the added responsibility of being accountable to their master. Now, the difference is one who received five and two talents, they were grateful to the master for these gifts and put their heart and soul and multiplied it to double. They did it out of their love and gratitude to their master who generously entrusted them with these precious possessions. They were men of characters who dedicated all their efforts to their own betterment and others. Therefore they were rewarded more.
We also observe a discouraging reaction in this parable by the one who received a single talent. First and foremost he failed to be grateful to the master. He could approach the master only as a stringent judge. He was not ready to work hard, self-centered, and not willing to take up any effort for oneself and the sake of others. He gives back his talents as it is and caused the displeasure of the Master. As a result, the talent was taken away from him and thrown out from the presence of the Mater.
This parable has a lot of relevance in our times wherein we encounter tendencies to become self-centered and individualistic. Every talent that we receive is meant to multiply by using it for the betterment of our own selves and that of others. The talents are given with a purpose. We cannot remain idle with the gifts entrusted to us by God. All the same, how are we going to make use of these talents? are we going to make use of these talents only for our selfish business gain and building our kingdom deprived of others who are couloured, belonged to other religion, untouchable and persons from economically poor countries, etc. then our motivations are wrong. As we meditate on this passage let us examine and see our response to the talents entrusted to us by God. Are we making use of these talents for the development of our potentials and the empowerment of our fellow brethren? Let us make an earnest effort to live this gospel message in our day to day life. Congrats to Mr. Biden, the president elects of U.S and I hope he would make use of his leadership skills to empower his nation from the clutches of pandemic and the world at large…