The parable of the talents is an explicit invitation from Christ to put his gifts to work for the Kingdom, so that they may bear abundant fruit, and not to ‘hide’ them out of fear.
In the Sources we find confirmation of how much Francis and Clare were committed to recognising and bringing to fruition the gifts (talents) received from the Most High with courage and self-sacrifice.
Indeed, whilst he was one day with St Dominic at the home of the Cardinal of Ostia, Francis spoke as follows about his friars:
«Sir, my friars are called “Minors” precisely for this reason, so that they may not presume to become “majors”.
The very name teaches them to remain lowly and to follow in the footsteps of Christ’s humility […]
If you wish them to bear fruit in the Church of God, sustain them and preserve them in the state of their vocation» (FF 732).
And Clare, in one of her letters to her spiritual daughter Agnes of Bohemia, expresses herself thus:
«I give thanks to the Author of Grace, from whom, as we believe, comes every supreme good and every perfect gift».
Furthermore, in her beautiful Testament:
«For it is the Lord himself who has set us as a model, an example and a mirror, not only for other people but also for our sisters—those whom the Lord himself has called to follow our vocation—so that they too may shine as a mirror and an example for all who live in the world» (FF 2829).
Both were committed to bringing to fruition, in their own lives and in those of their sons and daughters, the particular gifts bestowed by the Father of mercies, so that the benefits derived from them might be for the good of each and every one.
«For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away» (Mt 25:29).
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, year A (Mt 25:14–30)
