Readings: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Psalm 128; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30.
Grace, mercy and peace to you, my dear family of God’s people.
Today, we continue our reflection on Matthew, chapter 25. This chapter contains three powerful parables through which Jesus teaches us how to prepare for His coming and the final judgement.
The first, in verses 1-13, is the Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, which we reflected upon last Sunday. It teaches us the importance of wisdom, vigilance and preparedness.
The second, in verses 14-30, is today’s Parable of the Talents.
The third, in verses 31-46, is the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, which we shall reflect upon next Sunday, the Solemnity of Christ the King.
These three parables remind us of one fundamental truth: the Lord is coming, and we must be prepared to meet Him.
I will not repeat today’s parable because we have all heard it. It is a parable rich in spiritual lessons. However, while I shall begin by highlighting five important lessons, my principal message today will focus on the four mistakes of the servant who received one talent.
FIVE POWERFUL LESSONS FROM THE PARABLE
I. GOD GIVES ACCORDING TO OUR ABILITIES
The Gospel tells us that the master entrusted his possessions to his servants, giving five talents to one, two to another and one to the third, each according to his ability.
God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our strengths, weaknesses, capacities and limitations. He entrusts different gifts, responsibilities, opportunities and even crosses to us according to His wisdom and providence.
Therefore, there is no need to envy others, compare ourselves with them, complain about what we lack or become angry because someone else has received more.
Comparison often destroys gratitude, and envy prevents us from appreciating what God has already given us.
Remember, God does not expect five talents from the person to whom He has entrusted two. He expects faithfulness with what each person has received.
The important question is not, “Why has God given that person more than me?” but rather, “What am I doing with what God has given me?”
II. EVERYTHING WE HAVE BELONGS TO GOD
Every one of us has received something from God: life, time, health, abilities, spiritual gifts, material possessions, relationships, family, friends, opportunities and responsibilities.
None of these belongs to us absolutely. We are stewards, not owners.
Notice that the master entrusted his possessions to the servants. Even the profits they made belonged to him.
Likewise, everything we have comes from God and must ultimately be used for His glory and the good of others.
III. GOD REWARDS GOODNESS AND FAITHFULNESS
The master said to the first two servants: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Notice that he did not praise them simply for being successful. He praised them for being good and faithful.
Furthermore, although one servant gained five talents and the other gained two, both received exactly the same commendation and reward.
This is very important. God does not measure us merely by the quantity of our achievements but by the quality of our faithfulness.
You may not have the gifts of another person. You may not achieve what another person has achieved. But you can be faithful with what God has entrusted to you. And faithfulness in little things prepares us for greater responsibilities.
IV. EVERYONE WILL GIVE A PERSONAL ACCOUNT
The master entrusted eight talents altogether to his three servants. At his return, the servants presented a total of fifteen talents, including the original amount.
However, the judgement was not collective. Each servant was called individually to give an account.
The first servant could not answer for the second, and the second could not answer for the third.
Likewise, each of us will stand before God personally. We cannot hide behind the holiness of our parents, the faithfulness of our spouses, the generosity of our friends or even the religious activities of our parish. This was a point, we emphasised last week while reflecting on the oil of the bridesmaids.
V. GOD IS MERCIFUL, BUT HE IS ALSO JUST
The master was generous towards his servants. He entrusted them with valuable possessions and rewarded the faithful ones with even greater responsibilities and a share in his joy. However, the servant who deliberately refused to fulfil his responsibility was condemned.
This reminds us that God’s mercy must never be taken for granted. God is loving, compassionate, patient and forgiving, but He is also just. He respects our freedom and holds us accountable for our choices.
As St Paul reminds us in the Second Reading, we are children of light and children of the day. We must not live as those who belong to darkness.
Those who persistently reject God’s grace, refuse to repent and deliberately choose darkness over light risk eternal separation from Him.
FOUR MISTAKES OF THE SERVANT WITH ONE TALENT
Having considered these five lessons, let us now examine the four mistakes of the servant who received one talent. His mistakes are particularly important because they reveal attitudes that can prevent us from fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives.
I. FEAR: HE ALLOWED FEAR TO PARALYSE HIM
When the master returned, the servant explained: “I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.”
Fear was one of the reasons he gave for his failure. He was afraid of taking risks. He was afraid of losing what he had received. Perhaps he was afraid of failing and facing the consequences. And because he was afraid, he decided to do nothing.
My dear friends, fear has prevented many people from fulfilling their mission in life. Some are afraid to begin because they might fail. Others are afraid to try something new because they might make mistakes. Some are even afraid of success because of the responsibilities and expectations that accompany it.
Fear has kept many people from discovering their potential, using their gifts, becoming a blessing to others and fulfilling God’s purpose for their lives.
But remember this: the fear of failure that prevents us from trying is already a form of failure.
Of course, prudence is necessary. We must think carefully, plan wisely and avoid unnecessary risks. But prudence must never become an excuse for cowardice or inaction.
How many opportunities have we missed because of fear?
How many good things have we failed to do because we were afraid of what people might say?
How many talents remain buried because we lack the courage to begin?
Let us not allow fear to rule our lives.
II. HEARSAY: HE ACTED ON A DISTORTED PERCEPTION
The second mistake was that the servant acted on his perception of the master rather than on the trust the master had placed in him. He said: “Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.”
The older version of the lectionary has it that- “I have heard you are a hard man…”
Notice the contrast between his description of the master and the experience of the first two servants. The first two experienced a master who trusted them, appreciated their efforts, rewarded their faithfulness and invited them to share in his joy. The third servant, however, described him as harsh and demanding. His negative perception became an excuse for his inactivity.
There is an important lesson here. We must be careful about the conclusions we draw from what we hear about others.
Sometimes we dislike people we have never met. We become suspicious of people who have never offended us. We judge people based on stories we have heard without making any effort to establish the truth.
A single narrative can be dangerously misleading. Sometimes what we hear is incomplete. Sometimes it is exaggerated. Sometimes it is deliberately distorted. And sometimes it is simply false.
How many friendships have been destroyed by hearsay?
How many reputations have been damaged by gossip?
How many innocent people have suffered because others accepted accusations without seeking the truth?
My dear friends, do not allow someone else’s bitterness to become your judgement of another person. Learn to listen, but also learn to verify. Be slow to condemn and willing to discover the truth.
III. THE BLAME GAME: HE REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY
The third mistake was his refusal to accept responsibility for his failure. Instead of acknowledging his negligence, he blamed the master.
In effect, he was saying, “I did nothing because of the kind of person you are.”
He did not express sorrow for his failure. He did not ask for forgiveness. He did not take responsibility for his decision. He tried to justify his inaction by accusing the very person who had trusted him.
My dear friends, this tendency is not uncommon. Some people blame everyone else for everything that goes wrong in their lives. They blame their parents, their spouses, their children, their employers, their colleagues, their friends, their circumstances and sometimes even God. They have an explanation for every failure, an excuse for every mistake and someone to blame for every wrong decision.But they rarely examine themselves.
Of course, not every difficulty we experience is our fault. Sometimes we suffer because of circumstances beyond our control or because of the actions of others. Nevertheless, we must learn to recognise and accept responsibility for our own choices. Spiritual maturity begins when we stop making excuses and start taking responsibility.
Remember, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. But neither escaped responsibility for their actions (Genesis 3:12-13).
Let us stop playing the blame game. Instead of asking, “Who can I blame?” let us ask, “What can I learn, what must I change, and how can I do better?”
IV. LAZINESS: HE BURIED HIS OPPORTUNITY
The fourth mistake, and perhaps the most serious, was laziness. The master described him as a “wicked and slothful servant.”
While the other servants went to work immediately and made productive use of what they had received, this servant went away and buried his talent in the ground. He did not squander his talent on pleasure or throw it away. He simply refused to put it to work. And that was enough to earn the master’s condemnation.
My dear friends, there is a powerful lesson here. It is not enough to say, “I have done nothing wrong.” We must also ask, “What good have I done?”
The servant’s failure was not simply what he did; it was what he refused to do. He had an opportunity but wasted it. He had a responsibility but neglected it. He had a gift but buried it.
Laziness is not merely a weakness of character. When it involves a culpable refusal to fulfil our duties, it becomes a moral failure. Indeed, sloth is one of the seven capital sins.
Today’s First Reading presents the virtuous woman (person) as someone who is hardworking, responsible, generous and industrious. She works willingly with her hands, provides for her household and reaches out to the poor and needy. Her life reminds us that genuine faith must bear fruit in responsible action.
The Scriptures repeatedly warn us against laziness. (Read Proverbs 6:6-8, Proverbs 10:4, Proverbs 13:4)
And St. Paul urges those who are idle to work quietly and earn their own living (2 Thessalonians 3:11-12).
Let us examine ourselves.
How hardworking are we?
What are we doing with our time?
What are we doing with the gifts, abilities and opportunities God has given us?
Are we constantly procrastinating, postponing what should be done today until tomorrow?
Do we always have excuses for leaving our responsibilities unfinished?
Are we content to sleep excessively, waste time, avoid responsibilities and leave things scattered, disordered and disorganised while expecting others to do the work?
Are there duties we have neglected in our families, workplaces, parish or spiritual lives simply because we do not want to make the effort?
There is a difference between necessary rest and sinful idleness. But deliberately wasting our abilities, neglecting our responsibilities and refusing to do the good within our power are serious matters.
God did not create us merely to occupy space, consume resources and watch time pass. He created us for a purpose. He has called us to be productive, responsible and faithful stewards of His gifts. And we must remember that a talent buried is a blessing wasted.
Let us pray
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gifts and opportunities You have entrusted to us. Deliver us from fear, envy, excuses and laziness. Help us to be faithful, fruitful and responsible stewards of Your blessings. Amen.
Sermon preached by Fr Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on November 15, 2026