Taking Chances

The Parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-30) is one of Jesus’ best-known parables, and there are several ways to understand its message. At first, it might seem unfair that the third servant is punished simply for protecting what his master gave him. But when we look a little deeper, we discover that this story has much more to teach us about our gifts, our fears, and the choices we make.

Jesus tells his disciples the story of three servants who are given different amounts of money to care for while their master is away. Two put the money to work and earn more. The third, afraid of losing what he has been given, buries it in the ground. When the master returns, he praises the first two but is disappointed in the third.

One lesson we can take from this is that God has given each of us different gifts. We don't all have the same abilities, and that's intentional. Notice that the master praises both servants who used their talents, even though one earned more than the other. He praises them with the same words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” God isn't asking us to compare ourselves with others. We are simply asked to make good use of what we have been given.

The first reading from Proverbs (Prov 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31) gives us a good example of this. The worthy wife uses her gifts to care for her family and help those in need. She doesn't keep her gifts to herself but puts them to work for the good of others. 

Another lesson can be learned from the third servant who teaches us something about fear. He was so afraid of making a mistake that he chose to do nothing. Don't we sometimes do the same? We may be afraid to try something new, reach out to someone, or forgive a person who has hurt us. Jesus reminds us that faith sometimes means taking that first step, even when we don't know how things will turn out.

St. Paul (1 Thes 5:1-6) reminds us that we don't know when the Lord will return. Like the servants in the parable, we are called to make good use of our time and not put off the good we can do today.

The parable also reminds us that faith is meant to grow. Maybe taking a chance doesn't mean doing something extraordinary. Maybe it simply means having the courage to do something good that we've been putting off.

Faith Sharing Questions

1. Being cautious means assessing real risks and taking steps to stay safe while still moving forward, whereas being afraid means letting anxiety stop us from acting. How can 

we tell when a decision not to engage in something is out of a sense of caution or out of fear? 

2.Why do you think we sometimes compare ourselves with others instead of appreciating 

what we have been given?

3.We often think of spiritual growth as praying more or attending church more often. What are some other ways our faith can grow in everyday life?