The rich man, his servants and the talents

This weekend’s Gospel is a very familiar parable and one that is often used with students and young people. It is generally used as an encouragement to make the most of the gifts and skills that the listeners possess. It is rarely, however, placed in its context as part of the full Chapter 25 lesson about the time of waiting and preparation for the coming of the Lord and the Christian life.

Again, the story is presented as a parable of the Kingdom – a glimpse into the right order of things in the realised Kingdom. A very wealthy master entrusts his considerable assets to his servants to manage in his absence. The three servants were allocated money, ‘each in proportion to his ability’. The emphasis of the parable is on what each servant did with the funds they were allotted. They were charged with managing the money in the place of their master; acting in their master’s place to further develop his wealth.

Like all of Jesus’ parables, this one has a sting in the tail. Although the third servant has done nothing illegal or corrupt, he is very harshly dealt with. His crime is laziness! He was given a great opportunity to demonstrate his abilities and yet he shied away and returned to his master exactly what had been entrusted to him, unimproved. The author of Matthew’s Gospel uses this parable to shock the audience out of complacency. They cannot rely solely on the promised return of the Lord, they must continue to act on Jesus’ message and work to bring about the Kingdom in their own lives. Those who fail to act, leaving everything to the work of God, are as bad as the lazy servant who failed to grasp an extraordinary opportunity.

Like the original audience of Matthew’s Gospel, we can sometimes rely too much on God to bring about the Kingdom in our world. Like the lazy servant in the Gospel, we can fall into the trap of handing the world back to God in exactly the same condition that we received it. We have to make a difference in the world! We are called to change the world and bring it closer to the realisation of the Kingdom. The only way that we can do that it is to live our lives as if the Kingdom is already here. In the introductory rites of the Eucharist, we ask forgiveness ‘for what I have done, and what I have failed to do’. This last phrase is the point of the parable. What have I failed to do?

All who would follow Jesus are to preach the Good News of the Kingdom to the whole world (24:14) by going about the work that the master has called them to do (24:24-51). This work includes visiting the sick and imprisoned, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger and feeding the hungry (25:31-46). This is the true meaning of Serviam – to serve – to do the work God commands of us as we wait. Those who are found faithful may hear their master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  

Prayer based on Gospel reading

Creative, powerful God
Generous author of Life
You make, You bless, You give
You entrust us to care and tend your gifts
You call us to be fruitful and multiply
You empower us with abilities and opportunities
Your goodness is in our hands
We will use it and risk it
We will be trustworthy
May our efforts bring you joy

Amen