The Call of Our Talents: Sharing My Personal Gifts With Others

From the 20-Week Discernment Series, by Benedictine Volunteers

Matthew 25: 14-30 illustrates a beautiful metaphor of talents as gifts and abilities we have been given in service to others. Matthew paints a picture of a wealthy master who gives three of his servants talents—5, 2, and 1 talent respectively. The first and second servants given 5 and 2 talents double what they have been given and the third servant, given 1 talent, buries what he has been given in the ground. With the servants who utilize their talents, the master is pleased and with the third servant who is too fearful to utilize his talents, the master admonishes him. The relationship between master and servant can be a metaphor for our relationship with God, who gifts each of us with unique talents, and asks that we utilize them in the concreteness of our daily lives.

We can see through the parable of the talents that God does not discriminate among talents. Regardless the number of talents each servant is given, God does not ask for a specific amount back in return. God simply asks that they use their talents. Like the three servants, each of us is given different talents—both in quantity and quality. God does not ask that we multiply our talents out of pride or arrogance, but rather, that we utilize the gifts He has given us out of love and authentic desire. When we give to others out of love and authentic desire, we act from a space of abundance and openness. In doing so, we are not personally attached to our gifts, but rather, choose to live in generous service by using that which has been gifted to us. Conversely, when we choose fear, like the third servant who buried his talent, we can become so bound to fear of failure that it paralyzes us, and we do not act at all.

To share our talents with others means being a good steward of the gifts God has given to us. We have a personal responsibility to cultivate our gifts by sharing them with others. In return, these talents ‘multiply’ as we further develop and refine them. The contribution of our talents reflects back to us important information about who we are, who we are called to be, and where the world needs our abilities. By sharing our personal gifts with others through the unique gifts and abilities God has given us, we receive His intimate invitation to, “Come, share your master’s joy” (Mt 25: 21).

Questions for Reflection:

  • Spend some time prayerfully with Matthew 25: 14-30. It may also be helpful to visit with Luke 19: 11-27. When in your life have you chosen to ‘multiply’ your talents like the first and second servants and when have you chosen to ‘hide’ your talent like the third servant?
  • What are the talents (i.e. possessions, gifts, abilities) God has given you? In what ways have these talents contributed to the greater good?
  • Through these contributions, how has sharing your gifts with others helped you recognize/affirm/discover your identity in God?

The Staying Connected newsletter is made possible through the partnership of Catholic Volunteer Network and Catholic Apostolate Center.

 

 

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