Readings: Sirach 31:8–11; Luke 19:12–26
III Class, Feria Tertia infra Hebdomadam XII post Octavam Pentecostes
The liturgy places before us today two luminous texts: from Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), the praise of the just man adorned with virtue and fidelity, and from St. Luke’s Gospel, the parable of the talents entrusted by a nobleman to his servants. In both, we glimpse the figure of St. Stephen, first king and apostle of Hungary, who made his earthly crown serve the imperishable crown of heaven.
Blessed is the rich man… (Sirach 31:8–11)
“Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish: and that hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money, nor in treasures.”
St. Ambrose, in his commentary on Naboth’s vineyard, reminds us that kings are tested most by riches and dominion: “He who is rich and reigns must all the more strive against covetousness, lest his possessions enslave him, for to have all and to desire more is a double tyranny.”
Stephen, though clothed with royal dignity, was not enslaved by it. His earthly treasure was not his kingdom, but the faith received from holy baptism. He endowed churches, cared for the poor, and entrusted his crown to the Blessed Virgin, showing that the true wealth of a Christian ruler lies in humility and the service of Christ’s kingdom. Thus, he becomes the “perfect blessedness” praised by Sirach: not that he was without fault—for all men are sinners—but that he made of power a sacrifice to God.
The nobleman and his servants (Luke 19:12–26)
The Gospel recounts a nobleman who, departing into a far country to receive a kingdom, entrusts ten servants with a sum of money. The faithful servants, who trade and multiply the gifts, are rewarded with authority; the negligent one is condemned for hiding his talent.
St. Augustine, in Sermon 25 on the New Testament, explains: “The Lord entrusts to us his gifts, and He asks not whether we have kept them safe, but whether we have increased them. For the grace of God is not given to be idle, but to be fruitful.”
Stephen heard this word in his royal vocation. He was entrusted with a kingdom scarcely converted from the darkness of paganism. To him was given a “mina” of faith, and he multiplied it: churches built, clergy supported, laws written in harmony with divine precepts, and the Christian faith spread among his people. When he rendered account, the Lord could say: “Well done, good servant, because thou hast been faithful in a little, receive authority over ten cities.”
The negligent servant, who buried his talent, stands as a warning. Authority without service, wealth without charity, faith without works—all wither and are taken away. As St. Gregory the Great wrote (Hom. in Evang. 9): “Every one who receives the gift of preaching, or the grace of understanding, and does not use it for the salvation of his neighbor, hides his money in the earth.” How much more must this apply to rulers who, failing to govern in justice and faith, squander the talent given them for the common good!
The Lesson of St. Stephen
Placed between these two readings, the figure of St. Stephen of Hungary shines as both exemplar and intercessor. He possessed riches but was not corrupted by them; he held authority but saw it as stewardship. His crown was not his own, but Christ’s. In him, Sirach’s blessing and the Gospel’s commendation are united: the rich man untainted, and the faithful servant rewarded.
For Our Reflection
Today, whether we are kings of nations or only of our own small households, the Word of God asks us: What talents has the Lord entrusted to us? Have we multiplied them for His glory, or buried them in fear and sloth?
Let us ask St. Stephen of Hungary to intercede for us, that we too may be “rich without blemish,” not because we own little, but because we love little of this world. And let us strive to hear, on the Day of Judgment, the words spoken to faithful servants: “Well done.”