Today\u2019s gospel text is the next of Jesus\u2019 parables concerning the Kingdom of Heaven as recorded in St. Matthew\u2019s gospel.<\/p>\n
Jesus told these to his disciples, in his last week with them, so there is a noticeable sense of urgency. He knows the time is short so these parables are designed to be memorable, to stick with the hearers (both then and now)\u00a0 so this word will continue to speak to them in the days, weeks and years to come. As such, these parables have an edge to them which can cause discomfort in those who read or hear them. Which by the way was our Lord\u2019s intention\u2014discomfort is not a bad thing. It\u2019s a necessity in our life of faith\u2014to help keep us alert and aware of where we are and what we are doing. So when you find texts making you uneasy, don\u2019t skip over them, or worse try to squeeze a happier meaning of them. Rather, prayerfully sit with them, and ask God to show you what is putting you off and why\u2014and he graciously will that you might grow in your knowledge and love of him.<\/p>\n
Unlike some of Jesus\u2019 parables, this one is pretty clear as to who is who. The landowner is our Lord, the servants are his followers, or more accurately, those who would be his followers.<\/p>\n
But let\u2019s consider a few things that often get overlooked.<\/p>\n
First of all, the level of trust the landowner has in his slaves. He\u2019s leaving for a journey, for an undetermined amount of time, and he entrusts his property to those in his employ. There is no list of dos and don\u2019ts for them to follow, the landowner simply trusts they will not just care for his property, but make use of it. This suggests a certain level of relationship and confidence, he is giving them an opportunity to \u201cdo something\u201d they may never otherwise have had.<\/p>\n
Which brings us to the next point, the property wasn\u2019t distributed randomly\u2014rather it was portioned out to each according to his ability. This too shows care on the part of the landowner. And before we get into the mire of \u201cit doesn\u2019t seem fair the talents weren\u2019t evenly divided among the three slaves\u201d remember it was according to their abilities. That\u2019s the most generous thing he could do. He\u2019s not trying to set them up for failure, but success, intentionally giving each what he thought they could do their best with.<\/p>\n
We see that in his comments to the first two slaves upon his return. He doesn\u2019t praise the first one because he made more, rather his comments for them are identical\u2014\u201cwell done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been faithful in a few things, I will put in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.\u201d There is the sense he is genuinely pleased with their success, and not just because his property increased, but because they made the most of what they had been given.<\/p>\n
So far this landowner is presented as generous and thoughtful\u2014that is until the last slave speaks. He did nothing with the talent given to him\u2014but just buried it and then blames his inaction on his master\u2019s greed and harshness i.e. better to have done nothing than risk losing what he had been given.<\/p>\n
The landowner trusted this slave enough to give him a portion of his property, and after assessing the situation gave him what he believed the slave could best handle. The master gave him every opportunity for success. And the slave\u2019s response is not simply to ignore this gift of trust and property by burying it, but then to return it with personal insult\u00ad\u2014\u201cI knew you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter seed\u201d, or in other words I knew you were mean, and ruthless, taking what wasn\u2019t yours.\u00a0 It makes one wonder if he is even talking about the same master who the first two slaves serve?<\/p>\n
No wonder the master reacts as he does\u2014casting him out is simply a formality, as this slave ceased to truly serve him long ago in any meaningful way. The master did everything possible for all three slaves to benefit, and the first two accepted the gifts they had been given and acting boldly, put those gifts to work for the sake of the one who gave them. The third however, repays his master\u2019s trust with distrust, treats the gift with disdain, and then blames his actions on the one who has given him nothing but blessing. By his own words and actions he has declared he isn\u2019t part of this household nor does he have any desire to be.<\/p>\n
As with everyone of our Lord\u2019s parables, we hear them differently depending on the season of our life. We can hear this parable and feel uneasy. And more often than not it\u2019s because we know, or at least have the sense, that God has given us gifts to use and but we are busy coming up with excuses and rationalizations for our lack of action.<\/p>\n
I won\u2019t bother you with a list of examples\u2014if you are honest with yourselves you can recall your old stand-bys\u2014various pretexts for not taking advantage of all God has given for his sake. And if this is you today, take that unease with great seriousness. I\u2019m not saying that your salvation is necessarily in jeopardy, but remember, individuals rarely turn from God in one fell swoop, it\u2019s by degrees, one small turning at a time. If you don\u2019t trust God\u2019s graciousness to allow you to use his gifts (that he gave you knowing you better than you know yourself) and risk failure or for that matter success (and seriously aren\u2019t such judgements best left to our Lord?) then how are you trusting him for salvation? We can\u2019t earn God\u2019s grace, it is a gift, a gift for us to use for his glory and the blessing of our neighbours.<\/p>\n
And to be honest God expects more failure from us than we do of ourselves. That\u2019s not an excuse for recklessness, or carelessness with what we have been given, but a reminder that we don\u2019t and we can\u2019t secure it by doing enough \u201cgood things\u201d or achieving a certain level of\u00a0 \u201csuccess\u201d (whatever that might be). We need to be aware of our sinful tendencies to want to earn our salvation, and somehow become our own saviours. Our trust must be in Christ and not ourselves.<\/p>\n
Then there are times we can hear this and be comforted and encouraged. The talents we have, the material blessings we enjoy are not the result of anything in particular we have done, but are gifts of God. Gifts given for us to make use of for the sake of our neighbour and the glory of God. Gifts given according to our ability that we might make the best use of them. Gifts given without a requirement that we achieve a particular degree of success, but given that we simply might use them.<\/p>\n
This parable can be freeing, especially when we are about to dare something new, to step outside our comfort zone, or give what we think might be beyond our means but feel God leading us to do so. It reminds us God desires us simply to use our gifts for his sake\u2014whether it is a success or failure is up to Him to decide. Because this isn\u2019t about us earning HIs favour\u2014we already have that. But about living in the fullness of the grace given to us out of His steadfast love.<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Brad Everett<\/p>\n