The Holy Spirit

Today’s Gospel Text: "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. 17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' Matt 25:14-30

Reflection: Ability is the quality of being able to do something, especially the physical, mental, financial, or legal power to accomplish something; hence it is said, “each according to ones ability.”

How foolish it is when sometimes people use the term talent interchangeably with ability. The Scripture tells us that the master assigned the talents each according to one’s ability: “…. to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability.” (vs. 15)

What could this talent be that the master assigned to his servants?

The preceding verse reveals to us that the talent was the personal property of the master: "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property.” (vs. 14)

There is no doubt that the parable opens up to us, in all wisdom, the things of the kingdom of God and the insights thereof.

Hence, if the master is offering us his personal property and we were to apply this to the Kingdom of God, then we can rightly ask; what is that personal property which God wants to entrust to his servants, if it is not his Holy Spirit.

Hence, St. Paul in scriptures says; 

 “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” 1 Cor 12:7-11

  

What then is Apol'los? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 1 Cor 3:5

    

But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Eph 4:7 (for further reading: Eph. 4: 11-16)

    

Finally when the Lord will judge, each one accordingly: “… all the churches shall know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.” Rev 2:23

Prayer: Lord, you have entrusted to me your talents at Baptism, help me not to quench your Holy Spirit nor bury him, but instead seek to be his instrument for the common good.”

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