Advent Day 20 - You've got talent!

Matthew 25:14-30

             Once again I am faced with translational issues or words, only today I think that it's working in my favour. First, I often quote this passage, in a joking way. The phrase is You wicked and lazy slave!  The translation I use is 'you wicked and lazy lout! probably because I love alliteration. 

             The real word is 'talent'. It's a unit of money like a dollar, a euro, a ruble or denarii. But it also quite cleverly refers to a gift that God gives each one of us. I wouldn't dismiss either. I also would not take either lightly.  Whatever 'talents' we have we are clearly called to use wisely and generously.

          With only five days left until Christmas , when gifts and money (or lack thereof) seem omnipresent, it would be good to focus on three gifts. Perhaps somewhat analogous to the gifts of the three wise men. One, the gift of the Jesus' incarnation. A gift that can never be taken lightly. This gift in which Jesus not only shares in our humanity but enters into every aspect of life and ultimately death as well, freeing us from sin and offering us salvation. Two and three are the 'talents' I spoke of earlier. We are graced by God at our birth with certain talent(s) which we are to nourish and cultivate. In so doing we cooperate and elevate ourselves that much closer to the wholeness God wishes for us. The 'talents' that refer to money is something perhaps we get too preoccupied with especially at this time of year more than any other. But we are called to use our money wisely, if not shrewdly, if we are to take this passage as truth on any level. The sin of the rich man in the story of Lazarus is not that the man was rich, it was that he did not share his 'talents'. The rich man, and I mean all of us because we are all rich, truly rich, are called to share our wealth, take care of our brothers and sisters and do not as my friend says 'piss it away'.

         So, you've got talent! Enjoy!

    

             

‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.”His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed;so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But his master replied, “You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 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. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”