On this Monday of the Second Week in Lent, the Church invites us to meditate on the faithfulness of God’s servants, as recounted in Sirach 44:16-27; 45:3-20 and Matthew 25:14-23. These passages highlight the fidelity of the great patriarchs and the necessity of using our God-given talents wisely in service to Him. Let us reflect on these readings in the light of the teachings of the Church Fathers.
The Righteousness of the Patriarchs and the Fidelity of God
The passage from Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) extols the virtues of the great figures of salvation history—Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Aaron, and Phinehas—emphasizing their unwavering fidelity to God. Their faithfulness was met with divine blessings:
“The Lord established an everlasting covenant with him and gave him the priesthood of the people. He blessed him with splendid vestments and clothed him with glorious attire” (Sir 45:7-8).
Here we see how God rewards those who remain faithful. St. John Chrysostom, commenting on God’s dealings with the righteous, writes:
“The patriarchs and the prophets did not seek earthly glory but looked for the promise of the world to come. Their faithfulness was accounted as righteousness, for they trusted not in what was seen but in what was unseen” (Homily on Genesis).
Abraham, in particular, embodies this faith. St. Augustine notes that Abraham “believed God, and it was counted unto him as righteousness” (De Civitate Dei, XVI, 26). His obedience, even to the point of offering his son Isaac, prefigured Christ’s perfect obedience to the Father. Likewise, Moses and Aaron were chosen as mediators between God and His people, foreshadowing the priesthood of Christ.
The Parable of the Talents: Using God’s Gifts Wisely
The Gospel passage (Matthew 25:14-23) presents the Parable of the Talents, in which a master entrusts his servants with various sums of money, expecting them to make good use of what they receive. Those who invest and increase their talents are praised:
“Well done, good and faithful servant; because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many” (Matt 25:23).
But the servant who buries his talent out of fear and negligence is condemned. This warning reminds us that God expects us to use His gifts for His glory. St. Gregory the Great explains:
“To hide a talent in the earth is to employ one’s abilities only for worldly affairs, instead of using them in service of God. The idle servant is condemned because he did not labor for his Lord’s glory” (Homilies on the Gospels, IX, 1).
Lent is a season in which we take stock of the talents God has given us. Have we used our spiritual gifts to grow in holiness and help others, or have we neglected them out of fear, laziness, or attachment to worldly concerns? St. Basil the Great warns:
“We are each given grace according to our ability, but woe to him who does not strive to increase what is given! For just as a lamp cannot remain hidden, so too must our good works shine before men” (Homily on Psalm 33).
Faithfulness in Lent: A Call to Action
As we journey deeper into Lent, these readings call us to renew our faithfulness and use our talents for God’s kingdom. The patriarchs were faithful stewards of God’s promises, and Christ’s parable reminds us that we, too, must be diligent in spiritual growth, acts of charity, and works of mercy.
St. Leo the Great exhorts us:
“Let us make use of this holy time for our correction and purification. As Christ suffered for us, so must we suffer in love, laboring in the vineyard of the Lord” (Sermon 49 on Lent).
May we, like Abraham, Moses, and the faithful servants in the Gospel, hear those blessed words:
“Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of thy Lord!”
Let this be our Lenten resolve—to be faithful stewards, using our talents in His service, and striving for holiness so that we may share in the eternal rewards of His kingdom.
Domine, da nobis fidelitatem et perseverantiam!
(Lord, grant us faithfulness and perseverance!)