As our Lord spoke, He often spoke in parables. In one such discourse, He spoke of the talents entrusted to three servants. One invested his five talents and gained five more. Another invested his two and gained two more. The third buried his one talent, and thus its potential was given up. Instead of putting what he had received to use, he hid it, and the master rebuked this choice (Matthew 25:14 to 30, NRSVCE). Why was this?

You see, Saint Thomas Aquinas speaks of the sin of omission, explaining that “omission signifies the non-fulfilment of a good, not indeed of any good, but of a good that is due” (Summa Theologiae, II-II, q. 79, a. 3).

Saint Thomas Aquinas also speaks of the sin of pusillanimity, which concerns failing to pursue the good that one is capable of accomplishing. He explains that “pusillanimity makes a man fall short of what is proportionate to his power” (Summa Theologiae, II-II, q. 133, a. 1). In this very passage, Aquinas references the servant who buried his master’s talent, explaining that the servant failed to put what he had received to use because of fear.

Each and every human being is unique and has gifts, and it is for us to share those gifts. Trees share the oxygen they release. Flowers do not see their own bloom, and water does not drink itself. Likewise, we are not meant to live merely for ourselves.

Beyond the individual talents entrusted to us, the Holy Spirit bestows upon the faithful seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2 to 3; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1831). Through these gifts, the Lord strengthens us to recognize His will and to live according to the purpose He has called us to fulfill.

In this way, we are to share our talents with the world, striving to become saints and giving glory to God. This is the Lord’s will for our lives: that the gifts entrusted to us bear fruit in love for others.

References

Catholic Church. (1997). Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Paragraphs 1830 to 1831. https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_three/section_one/chapter_one/article_7/iii_the_gifts_and_fruits_of_the_holy_spirit.html

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. (1993). National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.
Isaiah 11:2 to 3
Matthew 25:14 to 30

Thomas Aquinas. (1920). Summa Theologiae (Fathers of the English Dominican Province, Trans.; 2nd rev. ed.). New Advent. (Original work published ca. 1265–1274)
II-II, q. 79, a. 3: Whether omission is a special sin?
II-II, q. 133, a. 1: Whether pusillanimity is a sin?