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32. Of the Talents.
A rich man went away
from home for a long time and, until his return, entrusted some of his
servants with a part of his fortune, that they should improve and
increase it in his absence by faithful administration. He gave one of
them five talents, another two talents and the third one talent. Centner,
however, or talent, means, as has already been said, a certain sum of
money, because in the oldest times money was not counted but weighed.
The first was a faithful servant of his master. With his five talents he
acquired five more talents. The other was also a faithful servant. He
also acquired two talents with his two talents. The third wrapped his
talent in a little cloth and buried it in the ground. After a long time,
the rich and noble man returned to his home and reckoned with his
servants. The first one approached heartily and joyfully and said,
‘Lord, you have given me five talents. Look there! I have bought five
others with them.’ His master replied, ‘You pious and faithful servant,
you have been faithful over a few things. I will set you over much.
Enter into the joy of your master!’ The second also approached with a
hearty heart and said: ‘With my two talents I have acquired two more.’
The Lord replied: ‘You pious and faithful servant, you have also been
faithful over a few things. I will set you over much. Enter into the joy
of your Lord!’ The third also came up and said, ‘Lord, I knew you were a
hard man. That's why I hid your money in the ground. Behold, there you
have yours.’ The Lord was angry at this foolish and wicked behaviour. He
took the money and gave it to one of the others. He entrusted nothing
more to this unworthy man. He had him put in a dark prison.
Understand that talents are the gifts and powers that God has given to
each person to use for good. God distributes the gifts and powers
unequally. One has received more, the other less. Whoever uses his
little faithfully, God rejoices and blesses his faithfulness. Whoever
does not use it, God is not pleased with him and cannot give a blessing
to industriousness and unfaithfulness.
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