Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/671

 And to  the  servant  who,  having  received  two  talents,  came back with  four  talents,  their  lord  spoke  in  like  manner.

“But he  that  had  received  the  one  talent  came  and  said: ‘Lord, I know  that  thou  art  a hard  man ;  and,  being  afraid,  I went  and  hid  thy  talent  in  the  earth: behold,  here  thou  hast  that which is  thine!’  Then  his  lord,  answering,  said:  ‘Wicked  and slothful servant,  thou  knewest  that  I was  a hard  man. Thou oughtest, therefore,  to  have  committed  my  money  to  the  bankers, and, at  my  coming,  I should  have  received  my  own  with  usury. Out of  thy  own  mouth  I judge  thee. Take ye  away,  therefore, the talent  from  him,  and  give  it  to  him  that  hath  ten  talents. For to  every  one  that  hath,  shall  be  given,  and  he  shall  abound ; but from  him  that  hath  not,  that  also  which  he  seemeth  to  have shall be  taken  away. And the  unprofitable  servant  cast  ye  out into exterior  darkness. There shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing of teeth.’  ”

In the  Parable  of  the  Talents, the  man  who  delivered  his  goods to his  servants  is  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. His goods  are  the  gifts bestowed on  us  by  Him  as  our  Creator,  and  all  those  graces  which  He as  our  Redeemer  left  with  us  when  He  returned  to  His  Father  and  “went into a far  country”. The talents,  therefore,  signify  life,  health,  memory, understanding, fortune  &amp;c. as well  as  faith,  sanctifying  and  actual  grace, and all  means  of  grace,  especially  His  own  Body  and  Blood  in  the Most Blessed  Sacrament. All these  gifts,  natural  as  well  as  supernatural, are talents  given  to  us,  of  which  we  are  to  make  good  use. We can “trade with  them”  by  using  them  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation of our  own  souls.

Almighty God  distributes  His  gifts  (for  they  are  His,  and  we  are only  His  stewards)  in  different  measure,  as  He  pleases. He does  not, therefore, require  an  equal  return  from  all,  but  only  a good  will  and strenuous effort  to  serve  Him  and  advance  His  glory. “Unto whom  much is given,  of  him  (when  our  Lord  comes  to  judge)  much  shall  be  required” (Luke 12,  48);  and  it  follows  that  of  him  who  has  received  less,  less will be  required,  though  he  who  by  trading  with  two  talents  gained other two,  received  the  same  signs  of  approbation  as  did  he  who  had gained five  more  with  the  five  entrusted  to  Him. Both made  a good use of  their  gifts,  and  by  corresponding  with  grace  and  performing  good works merited  an  increase  of  grace. The reward  given  to  the  faithful