The Parable of the Talents
No fixed feast day in the calendar
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Faithful servants make their master’s money grow: God wants you to use his gifts to do good
What is this parable?
In this story, each sum of money is called a “talent”. In ancient times a talent was a large weight of silver, not a skill as the word means today. One talent was a huge amount of money, as much as a hired worker earned in many years. Through this story, Jesus teaches us how to use what God has given us.
The story
A man who was about to go on a long journey called his servants and handed over his money: five talents to one, two to another, and one to a third (cf. Mt 25:14-15). The one who received five talents put them to work and made five more; the one who received two made two more. But the one who received one talent dug a hole and hid his master’s money (cf. Mt 25:16-18).
After a long time the master came back to settle accounts. The first two servants were praised: “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.” (Mt 25:21). The third said that he had hidden the money because he was afraid of his master. The master called him a lazy servant, took the talent away from him and had him thrown out into the darkness outside, far from his master’s joy (cf. Mt 25:24-30). This is a serious warning: whoever buries God’s gifts loses the joy of being with God.
What does Jesus want to teach you?
This parable does not teach how to get rich. The money is a picture of the gifts God gives: life, health, intelligence, a singing voice, skillful hands, and above all faith. The servant who received less and the one who received more are praised in just the same way, as long as they are faithful. The third servant’s fault was being afraid, hiding the gift and doing nothing at all. One day, God will ask you how you used those gifts.
A lesson for you
- Discover your own talents and thank God for them.
- Use your talents to serve: sing in the choir, study together with a friend, help out at church.
- Do not be so afraid of making mistakes that you never try anything; God loves people who make an effort.
Identifying marks
- A row of money bags a servant has set on the table: the gifts God gives each person: life, intelligence, talents, faith; when we use them, those gifts grow.
- The master sitting with his hand raised in praise: God rejoices over those who are faithful and invites them to “share your master’s joy” (Mt 25:21).
- The second servant coming forward, holding a money bag: God does not expect everyone to do the same; each one is given “according to his ability” (Mt 25:15) and only needs to be faithful with his own share.
- A small servant in the distance, holding a stick and digging beside a hole in the ground: someone who buries God’s gifts out of fear and laziness, and does nothing with what he has received.
The text on this page is the card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.
Compiled by i-Catholic · About