How talented!

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

We are nearing the end of this Liturgical Year, and during these last weeks the Church presents us with readings which help us reflect on our life, on our commitment to live true Christian lives. It does not do this to chastise us, but rather so that we may stop, think, and change, as necessary.

In today’s parable, Jesus speaks about a man who had to go on a journey. Before he left, he divided his possessions among his three servants. Although he did not divide his possessions equally, he expected the same results. He wanted his servants to invest his money, so that on his return, he would collect more than he had originally given. Two of his servants, do just that. The third one, however, did nothing. He did not lose the money given, but neither did he invest it, so he gave back to his master the same amount that he had given him. The master is angry with this servant and praises the other two.

God gives us many talents. However, we sometimes fall in the trap of comparing ourselves to others. We focus too much on the capabilities of others and on our deficiencies. Today’s Gospel wants us to dispel these negative thoughts and to focus instead on the many gifts God has given us. God forgets no one. He does not give us the same number of talents, we do not all have the same talents, either. God gives us what we need. The number of talents given is not important to God. He wants us to discover these gifts and look for opportunities to use them wisely. This is not an exercise we are to do once in a lifetime. On his return, the master gave the first two servants more talents. Even God gives us more talents, according to the time we are living in, and the opportunities we face, “for to everyone who has, more will be given.” Let us not underestimate even the little things we do, those things which we deem insignificant. As we will hear in next Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: “whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.”

We should not forget about the third servant. The master was not angry because he had tried to do something with the money, and it went wrong. The master was angry because this servant just did nothing. God is love. God is ready to help us. He is ready to forgive our wrongs. However, he does not tolerate indifference and laziness.

A reading from the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 25, 14-30)

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one – to each according to his ability.  Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two.  But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.

“After a long time, the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.

The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five.  He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents.  See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.  Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.  Come, share your master’s joy.’

Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents.  See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.  Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.  Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So, you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter?  Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?  Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'”

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel story is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. What are your talents? Are you using them wisely?
  4. What are the talents of your husband/wife? What are your children’s talents? Are you helping them to use them for their own good and for the good of others?
  5. Together with your family find the right time to read this gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare:
    i. The Bible reading from St Matthew (25, 14-30)
    ii. A lit candle;
    iii. Cover the table with green cloth;
    iv. A computer/laptop with the reading and clips.
  6. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested).
  7. Feel free to adapt to your situation.
  8. Be creative 😊
  9. Go to the Prayer Corner section to continue praying as a family.

Today Jesus invites us to participate in a treasure hunt! He is going to tell us another parable. Let us listen to the parable. Afterwards, we shall talk about the treasure hunt.

We will learn that:

  • Jesus tells us that we all know how to do many beautiful things

We need:

  • Pictures of children performing different activities: dancing, singing, drawing, helping at home, playing, doing sports, keeping company to grandparents and friends, cooking, praying, listening to Bible stories. It is important that amongst these pictures there are those which represent activities that the children are good at. It could be that from some pictures we will need more than one
  • Before starting, parents hide these pictures in the room
  • A paper on which the pictures will be fixed
  • Feltpen
  • Glue

In today’s parable, Jesus tells a story about a man who had to go on a journey. Did you ever hear your parents speak about putting money in the bank or about investing it? Investing is a difficult word! But it means that we put money somewhere (we invest) so that after some years we will have more money. This man did not put his money in the bank, he gave it to his servants. This is how he invested his money. So, he expected to have more money when he returned. This is what two of his servants did, and the master was happy. But the third servant was afraid that he would lose the money, so he buried it, and he gave his master, exactly the same amount that he had given him. The master was upset and angry.

Why is Jesus speaking about money? This money is like the many beautiful things we know how to do. These good and beautiful qualities are gifts from God. They are like a treasure God gives to everyone. Did you ever watch a movie illustrating the stories of pirates? Pirates are always in search for the hidden treasure. We too, might not know about the beautiful things which we can do. We call these good things, talents. These are gifts from God. Hidden in this room, there are pictures of talents we have. Let us go and find them! (parents help so that all the pictures are found).

After the pictures are found, the children are asked to describe them. They are then distributed accordingly. For example, if someone is good at playing football, he/she is given that picture, if someone is good at singing, he/she is given that picture. Therefore, one might need to have duplicates of some pictures. 

Jesus says that the master was happy with the servants who used the talents. Even God is happy when we use our talents. How can we use our talents? (for example: drawing: making cards for parents, grandparents, friends; sport: we play fair and we do not cheat, we are also friends with the opposing team).

After this discussion, the children can glue their pictures on the paper. They write their names and put this paper in their room. During the night prayers, parents remind them about their talents, and they thank God for the many gifts that he gave them.

Sign of the cross.

Thank you, God, for all the beautiful gifts! I know how to (everyone mentions one of his/her talents), thank you God.

When we use our talents, we would be giving God a gift! Together we listen to and sing: A gift to you.

God gives us many talents, or good qualities. Today, Jesus is going to tell us a parable about a rich man who had to go on a journey. Before he left, he gave his money, known as talents, to his servants. He does not give the servants the same amount. Let us see what they do with the money they were given.

We will learn that:

  • God gives everyone many beautiful qualities
  • God wants us to use our talents for our own good and for the good of others

We need:

  • A glass jar; one for each person present
  • Circles cut out of construction paper; they are to be a size which can fit through the jar opening. Calculate four or five circles for each person
  • Acrylic paint or glitter glue – to write on the jar
  • Decorations for the jar

Activity

What did the servants do with their master’s money?
Was the master angry with the first and second servant?
Why was he angry at the third servant?

God gives us many talents. We have not even discovered them all yet! The master gave different amount of money to each of his servants. Even God, gives us different talents. He does not give us all the same amount, neither does he give us the same ones. Can you think of a reason, why God does not give us all the talents we need? (allow the children to answer).

If I am not that good at drawing, and I would like to do a beautiful card for my grandma, and my sister knows how to draw very well, what do I do? (I ask her to help me)

If I am good at maths, and my younger brother has some difficulties, what can I do? (I help him)

If we were good at doing everything, we could do everything by ourselves. Yet God wants us to love each other and to help others too.

In the parable, the master was angry with the servant who buried his talent. God wants us to use our talents, not hide them away! The first thing we must do, is recognise our talents.

What are your talents? (allow the children to name their talents, helping them, as necessary. It could be that the children do not yet recognise their talents. It is best for the parents to show them what they are good at. Childhood is a time of development; if we encourage the children to try out new things, if we praise their efforts, if we do not discourage them, they will discover the talents they have. If on the other hand we do not allow them to try out new things, if we do the things for them and scold them for their failures, the opposite will happen. Examples of talents may include: drawing, playing a musical instrument, dancing, sports, ability to say jokes, kindness, joyfulness, generosity, making friends, reading, listening to others, patience, cooking).

In the parable, the master was angry with the servant who buried his talent. God wants us to use our talents, not hide them away! The first thing we must do, is recognise our talents.

What are your talents? (allow the children to name their talents, helping them, as necessary. It could be that the children do not yet recognise their talents. It is best for the parents to show them what they are good at. Childhood is a time of development; if we encourage the children to try out new things, if we praise their efforts, if we do not discourage them, they will discover the talents they have. If on the other hand we do not allow them to try out new things, if we do the things for them and scold them for their failures, the opposite will happen. Examples of talents may include: drawing, playing a musical instrument, dancing, sports, ability to say jokes, kindness, joyfulness, generosity, making friends, reading, listening to others, patience, cooking).

After we have recognised our good qualities, we need to see how best to use them. God does not want us to use our talents only for ourselves. He wants us to use them for the good of others. If I am good at singing and I sing in festivals, how can I use my talent for others? (be part of the church choir, take part in marathons which collect money for philanthropic causes and have singing as part of the entertainment).

Let us remember the third servant, who buried his talent. Talents are gifts from God. When you give someone a gift, what would you like him to do with it? Leave it wrapped in the beautiful paper or would you like him to open it and use it? We would be disappointed if he left it wrapped up, given that we have gone through all the trouble of getting him the gift, imagining his surprise, and how he would use it! The same thing happens with God. When God gives us talents, he would have already imagined our delight at receiving them and he imagines us using these talents for ourselves and for others too. God would be disappointed, if like the third servant, we hid our talents. One day, we will die. And God will ask us to give account of how we have used our talents. Let us be like the first and second servants. Let us discover our talents and use them to become better persons and to help others.

How can we use our talents for others?

Sometimes we think that we are good for nothing. We think that our friends know how to do everything and that we don’t. Today’s activity will help us remember what we are good at, it will help us remember the talents that God has given us.

Everyone takes a jar and on it writes: My talents. The jars may be decorated. Afterwards, everyone takes one of the construction paper circles, and writes on it a talent he thinks he has. This circle is put in the jar. Everyone takes as many circles as needed. More circles are to be added if needed. Whilst doing this activity we can listen to, God’s masterpiece.

When ready, everyone puts his jar, in a place where it can be often seen. When a new talent is discovered it is added to the jar. When we feel that we are good for nothing, we can open the jar, take out the circles and remember our talents. From time to time, we read what we have written on these circles, and see if we are using our talents wisely. Everyday, we look at this jar and thank God for these many gifts. (for parents: this is an exercise which adults can also do. Instead of a jar, they may write down their talents on a piece of paper and leave it in a place which is easily accessible. Like the children, more talents can be added to this list and from time to time, parents need to evaluate if they are using their talents).

Sign of the cross.

Let us remember the talents we have mentioned. Everyone is going to thank God for someone else’s talents. For example: Thank you God for mummy who knows how to take care of the plants, and she can make our house more beautiful with them. Thank you, God, for my sister who knows how to say jokes, she always manages to make me smile, even when I am really down. Thank you God, for daddy. He knows how to play football very well. I love to play with him, and I am becoming good at playing football myself.

We listen to: We all have gifts to share.

Gospel in symbolsDownload

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.