Parable of the TalentsI have lived much of my life in terror of this story; it always seemed so unforgiving--how could I ever do enough! And how I longed to hear the words, "well done, good and faithful servant", but feared I never would. Fear is a powerful protector for living creatures--our extended antenna keep us from bing eaten. Fear can prompt us to work hard, use all our skills, and shelter our families. Fear also can stop us dead--lead us to hide under the covers, deny what is, and waste our lives.
But is this parable about fear or work or responsibility? Does it ask us to measure ourselves by what we produce? Or is it about recognizing whose we are? Is it about the abundance God gives as revealed in the redeeming ministry of Jesus? I hope it is the latter for that is what frees me from fear and enables me to trade with my talents!
What do you think? What does it say to you when you ponder deeply?
Read thoughtfully:
14 "For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, "Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.' 21 His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, "Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.' 23 His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, "Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master replied, "You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
When I read this Gospel I think of how I often feel that I don't have much "talent" to share with the world and I become nervous and afraid to even try to do anything or give anything of myself for fear of humiliation. So often I would rather stay hidden and safe in an uneventful life than try new things and risk failure.
ReplyDeleteAs do many of us. I wonder if the master described in this is NOT God but the one who would limit us all. Maybe a point of this parable is that we will produce when we see the truth of God that loves and does not judge, that is not like the world which judges and limits love.
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