Paul invites the Corinthians to consider themselves, and so leads them to an appreciation of God's freely given grace in calling them to faith: in the eyes of the world they did not appear to have any great human qualities. If God chooses us for a task or responsibility in view of our human qualities, those human qualities are themselves gifts of God: as St Paul expresses it: "What do you have which was not given to you?"

The gospel parable which we read to-day teaches us to appreciate another aspect of what we have been given: the aspect of stewardship. The man going on a long journey divided his assets among his servants "according to each man's abilities". Though Jesus does not say so explicitly, it is obvious, as understood by those who received the five thousand and the two thousand, that the owner of the assets, was giving them to his servants in an act of stewardship, for responsible and productive safe-keeping. Jesus' doctrine of the talents has entered into all European cultures and so into other cultures in the adoption of the word "talent." If only everyone who knows the word "talent" had a deeper understanding of the doctrine of stewardship especially with regard to creation, how much cleaner, healthier and more pleasant our earth would be!