No, not that kind of talent!

Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25: 14-30

What have we been given? The answer will be different for everyone, but everyone has been given much. What do we do with the talents (gifts, abilities, strengths, passions) we've received? If we hoard them and keep them to ourselves, they become weak with disuse and gather the dust of indifference. Matthew makes it clear that Jesus requires us to use our talents in service to others.

The chief talent we've been given is faith, but if not used for good, faith too becomes just one more thing we keep for ourselves. Faith must be the impetus for works in service to our sisters and brothers. In this teaching, the old Reformation argument of faith versus works seems to loose it's potency. Faith without works, as St. James says in his epistle, is dead. If we are truly people of faith, we must "put our backs into it" and work in service to others.

What does that mean for me? The answer will be different for everyone, because all have been given a unique pallet of talents with which to create a beautiful painting of love, mercy, compassion, justice, peace and hundreds of other good things. If I keep my talents to myself, they are useless, even to me. Shared, our talents shine like the sun for all to see and all profit from our actions born of the unique gift that is me, you, and every person who draws breath.

Don't do what the lazy slave did and bury your talent! Just imagine what a world we would live in if we all shared our beautiful and unique heaven sent gifts!