He has not gambled away thy money, or spent it in drinking. He has kept it carefully, so that no thief could make away with it. He “going his way digged into the earth, and hid his lord’s money;” and now he gives it back to thee to the last farthing: “Behold here thou hast that which is thine.”[1] Nevertheless away with that servant! I do not accuse him of being a gambler, a drunkard, a spendthrift, or a thief; he is an unprofitable servant, who has allowed My talent to lie idle; therefore away with him into the exterior darkness. Ah, exclaims St. Bernard, filled with awe at reading this passage, “what must wickedness deserve if mere unprofitableness deserves damnation!”[2]
The Judge shall condemn men to hell for having omitted to do good. No, O slothful Christian! no longer think or say as you have hitherto done: I do no wrong; I do not curse, or steal, or commit adultery; this sloth in the divine service is already a great evil against God, and against the maxims of the Gospel of Christ, Bring that lame excuse of yours before the judgment-seat of God, and if you appear there empty-handed, and have not many good works to present to the Almighty, you will hear, to your sorrow, when it will be too late, what sort of a sentence shall be passed on you. The Judge will then pass sentence on each; how? “To every man according to his works.”[3] “Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire,” He will say. Why? Because you have ill-treated Me by your bad and vicious lives? No; not a word shall be said of that. But, “I was hungry, and you gave Me not to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me not to drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me not in; naked, and you covered Me not; sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me.”[4] The reason of your damnation is not merely what you have done against Me, but also what you have omitted and not done to please Me.
And for not having made a good use of their gifts and talents. Repeat now your ordinary excuse: I have not done much harm. What, He will say, wicked and slothful servant! where are the talents I entrusted to you? Where are the graces and good inspirations that I so often addressed to you Myself, and so often by means of others, speaking to your heart to encourage you to serve Me with zeal? Where are the frequent helps and
- ↑ Serve male et piger; oportuit ergo te committere pecuniam meam numulariis, et veniens ego, recepissem utique, quod meum est cum usura. Inutilem servum ejicite in tenebras exteriores; illic erit fletus et stridor dentium. Abiens fodit in terram et abscondit pecuniam domini sui. Ecce habes quod tuum est.—Matt. xxv. 26, 27, 30, 18, 25.
- ↑ Attende quid meretur iniquitas, si sola ad damnationem sufflci inutilitas.
- ↑ Unicuique secundum opera ejus.—Matt. xvi. 27.
- ↑ Discedite a me maledicti in ignem æternum. Esurivi enim, et non dedistis mihi manducare: sitivi, et non desistis mihi potum: hospes eram, et non collegistis me: nudus, et non cooperuistis me: infirmus, et in carcere, et non visitastis me.—Ibid. xxv. 41-43.
