Everyone's Responsibility to Use Their Talents

The Duty of All to Invest What They Have Received

1. My lords, my brothers, and fellow bishops have honored us with their visit and brought us joy by their presence. But I don't know why they're unwilling to help me when I'm weary. I've said this to you, beloved, in their hearing, so that your hearing may in a way intercede for me with them. When I ask them, may they also take turns speaking to you. Let them distribute what they have received; let them choose to work rather than make excuses.

Please listen to a few words from me, though I'm tired and have difficulty speaking. After this, we also have an account of God's mercies granted through a holy martyr, which we must hear in its entirety. What shall I say to you? You've heard in the Gospel both the appropriate reward for the good servants and the punishment for the bad ones.

The entire wickedness of that servant who was rejected and severely condemned was that he wouldn't invest his money. He kept the entire sum he had received, but the Lord expected profit from it. God is eager for our salvation. If the one who didn't invest is so condemned, what must those expect who lose what they've received?

We are the stewards—we distribute, you receive. We look for profit; you live well. For this is our profit in our dealings with you. But don't think that this task of investing doesn't belong to you too. You can't carry it out from this elevated position, but you can wherever you happen to be.

Wherever Christ is attacked, defend Him; answer complainers, rebuke those who blaspheme, keep yourselves separate from their company. In this way you invest, if you make a gain of anyone. Carry out our office in your own homes. A bishop is called by this name because he oversees, because he takes care of and attends to others. For every person, then, if they are the head of their own household, the role of oversight should belong to them—to care about how their household members believe, that none of them fall into heresy, neither wife nor son nor daughter, nor even their servant, because they have been bought at so great a price.

The apostolic teaching has placed the master over the servant and put the servant under the master; nevertheless, Christ paid the same price for both. Don't neglect the least of those belonging to you; look after the salvation of all your household with all vigilance. If you do this, you are investing; you won't be idle servants, and you won't need to fear such a terrible condemnation.