33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time [A]

November 19, 2023

Matthew 25:14-30

Talent is one of the few biblical words that has become part of our modern languages. Talent connotes a God-given ability or a natural, unique skill, and it needs to be fully developed. Harnessing our talents may contribute to the progress of society. In fact, talents have become a well-sought commodity in our society. Companies only hire talented employees. Schools are marketed as venues of talent development. TV shows like ‘American Got Talent’ or other similar programs flood our contemporary culture and shape our understanding of talents. To be successful means to have fully developed talents!

Unfortunately, this modern understanding of talent has also reshaped our behaviors as Church members. As Christians, we are expected to use our talents to serve. We may participate in various roles in the liturgy, like as choir members, lectors, or altar servers. Not only in the liturgy, we can also use our talents to serve in various communities and organizations. In fact, this limited sense of talent also affects how we see priests and other religious figures. Talented priests are either charismatic preachers or capable leaders in the parishes. Then, what will happen to many of us who do not have these ‘talents’ fit to serve in the Church? Are we not successful in the Church if we do not have talents?

To answer this, we must go back to the biblical understanding of talent. The Greek word ‘τάλαντον’ (read: talanton) is a Greek monetary unit (also a unit of weight) with an extremely high value. In the time of Jesus, a silver talent was worth approximately six thousand denarii. If a denarius is equal to a daily wage, then a talent means six thousand daily wages. How do we understand the talent in the Gospel, then? We are sure that talent is something precious, and when used correctly, it can grow and even multiply. Yet, Jesus also linked talents with our eternal salvation or damnation. Thus, talent must not only be something related to natural abilities that are useful for our lives on earth but rather something spiritual that is beneficial for our souls and salvation.

No wonder, if we read Fathers of the Church and other spiritual authors, we will see a different understanding of talent. St. Thomas Aquinas, in his commentary of St. Matthew, saw talent as the gift of graces. While it is true that Christians have different capacities to receive spiritual gifts, each of us has the most basic gift of faith, hope and charity. Furthermore, we are expected to grow in these spiritual gifts and to recognize them if we wish to please our Lord and the giver of these talents.

 While St. Jerome recognized it as the Gospel. Different persons receive different intensities of the Gospel message depending on our capacity, but everyone must live and share the Gospel. Some of us who have received five talents of the Gospel are tasked to proclaim it loud and clear to many people. Some of us who receive one talent of the Gospel are called to share it with the closest persons in our lives, like our families and close friends.

Indeed, this is Good News. We thank the Lord for the natural talents we have, but far more critical is how we receive and share our spiritual talents for the salvation of souls.

Rome

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP