In yesterday’s Gospel lesson we heard Jesus speaking of wise and foolish virgins who either did or did not have the foresight to pack extra oil for their lamps to accompany the bridegroom to the wedding feast. Why was he speaking in this parabolic language? He was speaking in parables to help illuminate what the Kingdom of Heaven will be like. The it in this week’s Gospel is the same subject matter as last week’s, namely the Kingdom Jesus inaugurates. If we go all the way back to the beginning of the 24th Chapter in Matthew’s Gospel we discover that Jesus has been on a teaching tirade in hopes of illuminating his closest followers about what God’s reign will truly look like.
Jesus goes in quick succession as his crucifixion grows nearer and nearer. He warns of the destruction of the Temple, points to signs of the end of the age, foretells of persecutions, bids his followers keep watch, urges them to remain faithful, and paints a picture of wise and foolish maidens waiting. In all of this instruction the energy around Jesus feels frantic, as though the anxiety of his disciples, the Pharisees, and the whole city of Jerusalem are wearing on him. By the time we get to next week, the last Sunday of the Church year, we will hear Jesus expressing the judgment of the nations like the splitting up of sheep and goats. At this moment it feels as though there is no middle ground, except that there is.
In this week’s Gospel there are three servants whom the master entrusts with a sizeable amount of money. One servant gets five talents, another servant gets two talents, and a third receives one talent—each according to her or his ability. After some time passes the master returns. The first two double the investment made with them. The third one acting out of fear of the master buries his talent and returns it—without either increasing or decreasing its value. The first two are commended, while the third servant receives a harsh punishment. We hear Jesus speak the tagline for this story through the master: “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.” Without much effort we paint a picture of God as harsh and uncompromising, while we describe discipleship as all or nothing. And yet, is that truly what this story speaks?
On several levels more grace abundantly flows throughout this story than we may expect. First, this is not an either/or scenario. The master did not say, “You had to either double your investment or else.” The property was generously invested in the servants. Second, there are multiple servants who not only succeed, but in fact double the initial investment made with them. Third, the servant who buries his one talent finds his perspective of the master confirmed, but only after the rest of the story points to the master being the exact opposite of this depiction. The master gives abundantly to all three. The master never gave an edict about returns on investment. The master never expected that the servants do anything but live in abundance themselves, as they celebrate the talent given to each sharing it with others. So what is it that I initially take away from this passage?
The it in the story is God’s reign here and forever. In this feverish atmosphere, as Jesus’ crucifixion looms largely in the background of this story we may be tempted to make everything Jesus says all or nothing. The truth is that the master in this story gave with overabundant generosity; however, if we choose to live in fear believing this world to be about scarcity, then we will miss out on how God’s reign really works. As everything is gift how will I celebrate in the overabundance seeking to expand upon all that has already been given to me?
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