Saturday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
There are some scripture passages that always leave me scratching my head and wondering exactly what Jesus is trying to reveal about God. Today’s reading about the parable of the talents is one of those stories. As I reflected on the passage I was struck by the phrase “Come, share your master’s joy.” Where does this joy come from and why are the two servants invited to join in the celebration?
This parable relates the story of the master who gives talents to 3 different servants “each according to his ability.” The master goes away and two of the servants use the talents to bring in more, while the third servant hides the one talent given out of fear. The master returns and rejoices with the servants who have used their talents, but is displeased with the servant who did not recognize the gift he received and ignored the opportunity to invest his talent. He loses everything and is left outside suffering in his separation.
When I read this from the standpoint of a loving God, there seems to be less judgment involved and more generous mercy towards the servants. As I reflect on the story, the master (God) gives each person “talents” according to his ability.” God, who creates us and loves us, gives us the gifts that he knows that we can best use. The first two servants recognize the generosity of the master (God), they trust in his mercy, and therefore they are able to accept and use their gifts by sharing them with others. Through their self giving they bring greater abundance to the household (or God’s kingdom.) On his return, the master (God) rejoices not so much about the growth from the gifts that have been used, but He rejoices in the relationship between those He has blessed and their faith and trust in His goodness. In that relationship of love, He invites them to join Him, since the servants have recognized the significance and connectedness of others around them. They have been able to give or “trade” their gifts with the community because they can trust that the Master loves them and calls them to be generous like He is.
The person who receives the one talent not only does not recognize the gift, but lives in fear of the Master. There is no trust or faith that the Master works from a place of mercy, so this servant fearfully keeps his gifts hidden and away from the benefit of others. The Master is as much displeased by the lack of trust and fear as He is disappointed that there was no yield from the gift that had been given. The servant has chosen not to recognize the Master’s beneficence and returns the gift and denies the relationship. The wailing and grinding of teeth that is promised is due to the servant’s choice to say “no” to the Master and the love, mercy and joy that the Master wants to share.
So where do we fit into this story? If we believe in a God who is loving and merciful, then we too must recognize His generous outpouring on each of us (according to our ability.) God calls us to recognize the many gifts that we have been given, and realizing that we are entrusted with these talents, we are called to share them and use them to build the kingdom. It is in the giving away that we actually multiply the benefits. God desires our “yes,” since this reveals our willingness to be in relationship with Him. We come to see that God and the world around us are connected, and by sharing and serving one, we are in fact serving the Greater One. To deny God and His grace in our lives and the world around us leads us to great suffering and darkness. Trusting in God and His love brings a joy knowing that even in the times of challenges there is still a Greater Good that is present among us.
God calls us daily to a deeper relationship. Through prayer, service and community we can walk on the path that leads us closer to God. Hopefully when our time here on earth comes to its completion, we will hear God speak to us, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Come, share Your master’s joy.”
Loving Father, Your Son Jesus shows us how to give of ourselves completely in the service of others. Through this self emptying Jesus illustrates the great depth of the love that He shares with You. With the grace of Your Spirit, help us to recognize the gifts You have given to us, and empower us to go forth to share those with the world. May our lives of love and service be a sign of our love and trust in You. We pray this in Christ’s name. AMEN
—Marylynn Herchline