😇Born in Spain, St. Thomas of Villanova was an Augustinian friar who became the Archbishop of Valencia. His life was a shining example of heroic charity, tirelessly dedicating himself to the poor and needy to the extent that he was known as the "father of the poor." He saw the goods of the Church not as his own, but as the heritage of the helpless, distributing them with such generosity that he often had nothing left for himself. One of his most famous reflections summarizes his spirit: "If you want God to hear your prayers, you must hear the cry of the poor." His life perfectly embodied the parable of the talents, multiplying the gifts received from God in the service of his neighbor.
🙏 Introit (Ps 63:11 | ibid., 2)Státuit ei Dóminus testaméntum pacis, et príncipem fecit eum... The Lord made to him a covenant of peace, and made him a prince, that the priesthood should be his forever. Ps. O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness.
📜 Epistle (Ecclus 44:16-27; 45:3-20)
Behold a great priest, who in his days pleased God, and was found just; and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation. There was not found the like to him who kept the law of the most High. Therefore by an oath the Lord made him to increase among his people. He gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his covenant upon his head. He acknowledged him in his blessings, and preserved for him his mercy; and he found grace in the eyes of the Lord. He magnified him in the sight of kings, and gave him a crown of glory. He made an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him a great priesthood: and made him blessed in glory. To execute the office of the priesthood, and to have praise in his name, and to offer him a worthy incense for an odor of sweetness.
📖 Gospel (Mt 25:14-23)
At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples: A man going into a far country, called his servants, and delivered to them his goods. And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability: and immediately he took his journey. And he that had received the five talents, went his way, and traded with the same, and gained other five. And in like manner he that had received the two, gained other two. But he that had received the one, going his way digged into the earth, and hid his lord's money. But after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them. And he that had received the five talents coming, brought other five talents, saying: Lord, thou didst deliver to me five talents, behold I have gained other five over and above. His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. And he also that had received the two talents came and said: Lord, thou deliveredst two talents to me: behold I have gained other two. His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
🤔 Reflections
💡The talents signify everything God has granted us for our use and benefit, for the word of the Lord is a talent entrusted to us to trade with. He who learns well and lives righteously keeps his master's talent. But he who hears and does not practice, hides it in the earth, that is, in a life given over to earthly pleasures. (St. Jerome, Commentary on Matthew). The five talents are the five senses of the body; the two talents are the intellect and action; and the single talent is reason itself. The one who received five talents and gained another five represents the one who, through his bodily senses, acquired knowledge of heavenly things for himself and others. (St. Augustine, Questions on the Gospels, 1.39). Each of us will be called to account for what we have received. Trading with the talents is the duty to use the gifts God has given us for the good of others and for His glory. He who fails to do so out of laziness hides his talent in the earth, because earthly thoughts choke the seed of the divine word. (St. Gregory the Great, Homily 9 on the Gospels).
🔄The parable of the talents in Matthew finds a parallel in the parable of the minas in Luke (Lk 19:11-27). Whereas in Matthew the servants receive different amounts (five, two, and one talent) "according to his ability," in Luke ten servants receive the same amount (one mina each). This difference in Matthew underscores the unequal distribution of gifts but the proportional expectation of return, while Luke focuses on the same initial opportunity given to all. Furthermore, in Luke, the context is Jesus' approach to Jerusalem, to correct the expectation that the Kingdom of God would appear immediately, and the reward is explicitly governance over cities, linking earthly faithfulness to concrete heavenly authority.
🕊️The writings of St. Paul deepen the theology of "talents" as spiritual gifts (charisms). In 1 Corinthians 12, he details that the gifts are diverse—wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing—but distributed by the same Spirit "for the common good" (1 Cor 12:7), which echoes the idea of trading with the master's goods for the benefit of all. In Romans 12:6-8, Paul exhorts the use of different gifts with diligence: "he that gives, with simplicity; he that rules, with care; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness." This exhortation is a direct call to action, condemning the attitude of the servant who hid his talent. Finally, the reckoning of the parable is reaffirmed in 2 Corinthians 5:10: "For we must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil."
🏛️Church documents, such as the decrees of the Council of Trent, reinforce the responsibility inherent in the gifts received, especially among the clergy. The council vigorously insisted on the duty of bishops to reside in their dioceses, preach the Gospel, and administer the sacraments, condemning absenteeism as a form of "burying the talent." The obligation of a bishop, like St. Thomas of Villanova, to care for the poor and manage the Church's goods with charity and prudence is a direct application of the mandate of the "good and faithful servant." The Roman Catechism, promulgated after the council, details the obligations of each state in life, teaching that all authority and all goods are a deposit from God, to be managed for His glory and the good of souls, not for personal gain.
🧐See English version of the critical articles here.