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.
After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.' His master said to him, '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.'
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.' His master said to him, '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.'
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.' His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'"
REFLECTION:
“His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter?”
We all have an interest in money. We can all relate to it in some way. Some think of it more than others, some believe they need it more than others. One thing I noticed in moving to a metropolitan area is there are many people asking for your business so they can build their businesses. And, there are even more solicitors asking for your financial support of their missions. How do you decide which direction to spend money? It is a difficult question to answer, which is made easier through faith and prayer.
The servant with one talent was too afraid of losing it all to do anything with it. I think many of us do the same with our money and time. Sometimes we are too busy or are afraid of helping others. When we do give, do we give enough? Or, do our sacrifices keep us a little too comfortable? Is God expecting more of us than what we feel the need to do and are we scattering and planting for the harvest?
God will harvest his entire creation, not just the part that is bountiful. God has given us all our possessions, both material and spiritual. He expects us to share and to evangelize by helping others. May God help us to be a wise servant and be willing to plant and scatter what we have received from Him.
