As with all of Jesus’ parables, it is very common for us to want to simply throw up our hands and say, “I don’t get it!” And, today’s parable is particularly difficult to understand. I can imagine his disciples saying, “what on earth are you talking about, Jesus?
In the context of today’s environment, I can also imagine a professor at a prestigious graduate school of business using this parable to explain why the “rich get richer, while the poor get poorer.” Or, as an introduction to investment theory. After all, the master summarizes the situation pretty well, “those who have, will get more until they grow rich, while those who have not, will lose even the little they have.” We could assume the parable is about capitalism, investing for the maximum return, acquiring wealth at all cost….But we know better, don’t we?
The parable is offered to the disciples (and to each of us) for encouragement. Jesus is the master going on a journey. The disciples are the servants with whom Jesus has entrusted the gift of faith.
The parable of talents is all about the gift of faith and what that faith means in our daily lives. I don’t know about you, but I have always thought the reference to “talents” was a reference to money, some type of currency. Actually, a “talent” is a unit of weight, a measurement of the value of the gold or silver, or whatever was exchanged in Jesus’ time. So today when we speak of one’s talents, we are speaking about the measure of the value of a person (not his/her ability to play golf or sing) we are speaking about the measure of the value of a person —a person that, our faith tells us, is created in the image and likeness of God and of his son, Jesus.
But does this really help us better understand the parable? For me, what really helps are the readings that come before and after this parable—the 25th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel. The three parables are—the parable of the ten virgins; this week’s parable of the talents; and parable concerning the judgment of nations…the separating of the sheep from the goats. When read together, these parables are Jesus’ stories about the end times, about judgment, about our lives—as good disciples—as doers of good deeds. The parables remind us that what is given to us—first and foremost our faith and then our talents, financial resources, opportunities—are meant to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God, for the greater glory of God, for the common good and for the salvation of souls—given from a heart of gratitude!
As next week’s gospel makes so clear, the entire judgment of history and of each of us is based on our service to the least of our brothers and sisters. In next week’s gospel reading Jesus says… “when you cared for the least of my brothers and sisters, you cared for me”. It is with this understanding, that today’s reading comes to light. Faith gives us our value system; our caring of others; our dying-to-self, our being for others. So, how can we best express our Faith today?
As disciples of Jesus, you and I are among those fortunate enough to have the gifts of the Holy Spirit and a faith that calls us to discipleship and stewardship.
It is incumbent upon us who are baptized into the gift of faith to invest our gifts, not hide them out of fear or laziness. Today’s parable is about what we do with the gift of faith that we express publicly as we gather together to hear the Word of God and share in the Eucharistic meal of his Son. Are we, each of us, willing to trust in God’s goodness sharing our gift of faith with our time, talent and treasure?
If anyone thinks that amassing wealth is somehow a good in itself, that person is seriously mistaken. Jesus says in the Gospel of Luke, “be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in abundance of possessions.” Jesus tells the story of the rich man whose land produced abundantly. What does the rich man do? He builds even larger storehouses for his goods. God calls such people fools, since they store up treasures for themselves, but are not rich in the sight of God.
My friends, the goods of the world and the wealth derived from our labor must be used for God’s glory, rooted in Christ, for the building up of God’s Kingdom and for human assistance. I believe that applies to each of us as individuals, to our faith community, and to the governments we entrust a part of our wealth to.
We need to allow ourselves to be open to the Word of God and to the Eucharist that nurtures us–letting our faith guide us in making choices using our time, talents and treasure in service to our Lord—to those in need, who are the face of Jesus. We do all this for the greater glory of god.
I know full well that this is a very difficult time for everyone, especially those of us on fixed incomes. We can be anxious, uncertain of the future, maybe even afraid. I know! I know we also do have time—time to invest in serving our church and it helping others—we are, after all, Jesus’ helping hands!
I am confident though, that if we are the best disciples we can be; if we invest our time, abilities and treasure for the fruits of faith, hope and charity, then Jesus Christ will say to each of us, “Well done, my good and faithful servant…Come, share my master’s joy.