Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?

 

 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

 

- Matthew 18:21–35 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught the disciples:  "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.  For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.  What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.  Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." 

 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."   My study Bible tells us that seventy times seven is symbolic of an unlimited amount (seven is a number symbolizing fullness; seventy multiples such fullness).  This is a parable which teaches the need for unlimited forgiveness.  Ten thousand talents is what my study Bible calls an impossible sum; it is more than any laborer could earn in many lifetimes.  A hundred denarii is a small number by comparison but still remains a significant amount by earthly standards -- my study Bible says it amounts to about three months' wages for a contemporary worker.  But it is a pittance compared to the debt which was owed to the king.  It notes that God not only stays the punishment we deserve, but forgives us the entire debt as well.  Because God forgives us, we are in turn required to grant the gift of forgiveness to others.  There is another patristic interpretation of this parable given, with regard to the punishment described.  In that interpretation, the man represents the soul, the wife represents the body, and the children represent a person's works or deeds.  So therefore, the body and the deeds are given over to slavery -- to Satan, so that the soul might possibly be saved (see 1 Corinthians 5:5). 

There are various places where Jesus teaches us the importance of forgiveness, and most notably how much it is required of us.  In the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:8-15), we pray, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors," indicating not simply mutual forgiveness but that since this prayer is in the plural ("Our" Father), we're also praying for the forgiveness of others.  Notably, Jesus adds the following statement in giving the prayer, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  This addition is a clear affirmation of the teaching in today's parable, Christ's strong admonition regarding our own duties of forgiveness if we want to realize the forgiveness given to us.  The parable makes it clear that God's forgiveness is abounding and abundant, and we are to imitate God in this in order to realize our own.  Note that the teaching does not ask us to be a doormat; in context with the teaching on mutual correction in the Church found in yesterday's reading, the process of forgiveness also asks repentance of those who sin against others.  But what seems most significant are the staggering sums of forgiveness of debt in the parable, something which it is literally impossible for us to repay.  If we think about God's forgiveness, the vast need of such forgiveness is also not limited by time.  That is, as human beings prone to error and sin, we have a long way to go in terms of how we could possibly "qualify" to live in harmony with God in God's Kingdom.  Without forgiveness of sin, how would that even be possible?  Therefore the forgiveness of God, given in advance of any repentance on our part, is extraordinary.  However, in order to realize that forgiveness, we must go through our own process of repentance -- and especially in today's teaching by Jesus, our own exercise of forgiveness as well.  Forgiveness is a powerful way to re-establish trust when a trust has been broken; in effect, it is the only way to do so.  Therefore, as God invites us in to a communion with God even though we have strayed away from it and are always tempted to do so in a number of ways, we are continually invited back in.  The nature of a sinful or "fallen" world is simply a type of predetermination that we will sin, incorporating and learning sinful behavior and misleading thinking and habits from what is around us.  But God's forgiveness covers that, as God awaits our own "change of mind" (repentance) and return.  Therefore we are in turn asked to forgive and re-establish relationship or communion with others (a "brother") within the fullness of the communion with God, and the body of Christ (the Church).  While we realize the love and forgiveness on offer to us, our disposition should be to realize that as we are capable of such also.  Within a marriage, for example, such a disposition and habit must be understood as a bedrock for continued good relations in a bond which Jesus describes as "two become one flesh" (see Matthew 19:4-6; not coincidentally part of the text in tomorrow's Gospel reading).  But again, forgiveness is a process that has repentance as part of its structure.  Just as the bad servant realized the amount of his debt, and asked for patience, we also must recognize our own before forgiveness is extended.  Let us note also the phrase in the parable often associated with Jesus' actions:  the master was moved with compassion.  It's important to see that Christ asks us to do the same in turn, just as judgment will also be based on the exercise of this capacity for ourselves (see Matthew 25:31-45).  Moreover, we are to understand that God is offering forgiveness before we realize we need it, but we also must do our own "work" to realize it and receive it.  So it is with compassion and forgiveness; we may offer something as a disposition toward others, but there is a process to reconciliation that asks repentance as well.  In all things, we seek to please God above all, giving our circumstances and difficulties with others up to God for guidance through them.  Here we are given a model of what it is to forgive and what it is to withhold forgiveness even after repentance and the knowledge of our own forgiveness by God.  This is an understanding and attitude made in the heart, a teaching that comes from the love we're given by God to begin with, and hopefully we learn to grow in that love in the heart.  

Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?

 

 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted  to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

 

- Matthew 18:21-35 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught the disciples, "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.  For the Son of man has come to save that which was lost.  What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.  Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.  Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." 

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted  to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."  My study Bible explains about today's reading that the number given by Jesus, seventy times seven, is symbolic of an unlimited amount.  It notes that this parable illustrates the need for unlimited forgiveness.  Ten thousand talents, the sum owed to the king, is an impossible sum.  It's more than a laborer could earn in many lifetimes (according to one estimate, 200,000 years of labor).  From an earthly perspective, a hundred denarii is also a significant amount of money -- about three months' wages, but a pittance compared to the giant debt owed to the king.   But God does not just stay the punishment that would equal the debt, but forgives us the entire debt as well.  Since God forgives us, we are in turn asked to grant the gift of forgiveness to others. There is also in patristic tradition a spiritual interpretation of the punishment that is described here.  In that view, the man represents the soul, the wife represents the body, and the children represent a person's deeds.  So, therefore, the body and the deeds are given over to slavery -- that is, to Satan, so that the soul might possibly be saved (see 1 Corinthians 5:5).  

What is forgiveness?  Is it full reconciliation?  Here and in the Sermon on the Mount, in the prayer Jesus gives to us that we call "The Lord's Prayer" (Matthew 6:9-15), Jesus likens our sins against others, as well as those committed against us, to debts, when He teaches us to pray, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."  He also uses the illustration of trespass in His admonition about forgiveness He adds afterward.  So debts, in this context, become some shortcoming of our own, some way in which we've harmed or hurt others, or sinned against them.  There are all kinds of sins and sinning that harm others, some deliberate, some even inadvertent if we are going to count a liability for something unintentional.  A careless word, harmful gossip unthinkingly repeated, unintended consequences may result in so much harm to another or to ourselves that one might consider it "owed" back for the detriment done.  So what is the cost of forgiveness?  Are we prepared to give up restitution, or what we think we're owed when there is a sin to us or to our well-being?  But let us look at the formula for correction in the Church given by Jesus in yesterday's reading (see above).  The one committing the sin is called upon to recognize what has been done; the failure to do so will result in the person being ostracized from community.  As the repeated expressions of what that means exactly given by my study Bible indicate, this last result, to be delivered  "to Satan for the destruction of the flesh" in the words of St. Paul (1 Corinthians 5:5), is not seen as punishment.  Rather it is seen as the last hope for correction and recognition of destructive behavior, the last means of coming to salvation.  It seems that the giving up of such debts for mutual forgiveness is a way of maintaining community not simply among us and between us, but under God, and as the Body of Christ.  For ultimately, everything is owed to God, the author of our lives, the Creator, the One "in whom we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).   But what of those who refuse to acknowledge their debt?  Jesus does not acknowledge that in the parable, but rather His emphasis is on forgiveness and our own failure to extend it.  Of course, coming after Jesus' teaching about mutual correction and discipline in the Church, Peter's question is really a focus on relationships with fellow faithful ("my brother").  But what of the rest of our lives, in our highly secular world?  How does one forgive when sin is not acknowledged?  What does that look like, as is so often the case?  If we think of God as the One to whom all is owed, then our extended forgiveness is a kind of contract between ourselves and God.  We don't necessarily need full communion with a person who continues to sin or trespass in some way, as is evidenced in Jesus' formula for mutual correction in the Church.  But nevertheless we are encouraged to forgive in the sense of letting go of the debt, refraining from seeking our own means of punishment.  If we're concerned about justice as a way of equalizing things, penny for penny and pound for pound, then we must take into consideration the aspect of Christ's parable that tells us clearly that this will be the work of God, and is not up to us to do ourselves.  I was once told by an attorney (who handled many inheritance cases) that the only place that justice really happens is in heaven, and this would seem to match up with Christ's parable.  What we take away from His teaching is that we forgive, even if that means we simply place our faith in God to work things out, and give us good things with which to build our lives.  Whether or not an injustice or hurt is recognized on worldly terms, we have a way to follow our faith, and exchange our debts for something better, a trust in God.   Note that in the parable the emphasis is on our initiative to forgive, and not on the failure of others to repent.  Ultimately our agreement is with Christ's heavenly Father, our first relationship of prime importance.  Let us endeavor to maintain this relationship with God as we are taught.

I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven

Christ the Good Shepherd c. 425 AD, Mosaic, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

- Matthew 18:21-35

In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught His disciples, "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.  For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.  What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.  Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.  Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?"  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."  My study bible says this expression, seventy times seven, is symbolic of an unlimited amount.

"Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."  Ten thousand talents is described by my study bible as an impossible sum, more than a laborer could earn in several lifetimes.  A hundred denarii would be an important amount in a worldly perspective (about three months' wages, according to my study bible), but it's a tiny amount in comparison to the debt that was owed to the king.  In terms of our own "debts" as in the Lord's Prayer, God stays punishment and forgives the entire debt as well.  In turn, my study bible says, we are required to grant the gift of forgiveness to others.  Regarding the punishment first declared by the master ("his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made"), there is an additional spiritual interpretation found in patristic commentary.   In this perspective, the man represents the soul, the wife the body, and the children a person's works or deeds.  So therefore, in this punishment, the body and deeds are given over to slavery -- that is, to Satan -- so that the soul might possibly be saved (see 1 Corinthians 5:5).  This interpretation fits with the instructions that Christ gave in yesterday's reading for mutual correction in the Church, with separation from the Church as last resort -- a type of medicine to hopefully bring about reconsideration, repentance.

My study bible's mention of the spiritual interpretation of the punishment as initially given by the king is an interesting one, especially in light of the understanding from yesterday's reading -- that separation from the Church, as last resort for one who is unrepentant, is actually meant as corrective medicine.  In other words, such a state of separation, when all other means have failed, is thought to be the only experience that can bring about a reconsideration of one's acts, a change of mind (which is literally what the Greek word for repentance means).  In this case, we see that it immediately results in the repentance of the man who owed the king his huge sum, and he begs for forgiveness of the debt, and so immediately receives great mercy.  But his hardness of heart shows in his subsequent treatment of others, and so he eventually winds up with "torture" until all is paid, another symbolic representation of what it is to be cast out from the merciful life of the Kingdom and under the sway of the "ruler of this world."  Torture, after all, is what the devil does; the word for "evil" or "evil one" in the Greek (as used in the Lord's Prayer, when we pray "deliver us from evil") is πονηρός/poneros.  It literally means "pain" or "agony."  So what good could it possibly do, as in St. Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 5:5, to "deliver one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh"?  In some sense, it reminds us of the "tough love" sometimes used in interventions for addiction as a last resort -- as when family members are asked to stop supporting a lifestyle that contributes to addiction.  The resulting difficulties will hopefully encourage the addicted person to recognize and come to terms with the dire nature of their circumstances and truly seek healing.  As we are in a season of giving thanks in some countries (in the United States, the Thanksgiving holiday is next week), and a time historically associated with harvest festivals and looking toward the celebration of the birth of Christ, it might be a perfect time to think about all the merciful things we receive through our faith that are so often easily overlooked.   Each of us has particular experiences of our faith, but if one looks back upon the loving nature of God experienced through Christ, then we may truly want to consider what it means to be inside of this loving embrace, as contrasted with living without it.  Through prayer, we may find that the hardness we experience in the world is ameliorated by the experience of love and even confidence we find in private time with our Lord.  Within the context of our faith, we find good guidance for our lives, medicines for dealing with setbacks and hardship, like, for example, the prescription of humility which has so many surprising benefits to our whole orientation in life.  Outside of such a gracious spiritual influence, we might find a seemingly enticing but entirely different experience of life where this mercy is missing.  It's easy to take for granted the love of God, but far less so when one has experienced life without it.   Like the Prodigal Son, our times of "torture" or pain when we're off the path God would set for us may come to be a good corrective influence.  Without benefit of the loving nature of the One who would set out to rescue the single straying sheep, we may come to know life only through the hardness of heart that seems at times to define the worldly.  The popular psychologist Dr. Phil describes a proper home as "a soft place to fall."  Everybody may not have this kind of worldly home, but within the loving embrace of God and God's extended family of the communion of saints, we all truly have such a home for our hearts, living and present and spiritually holding us.   Our own experience of life really depends on our awareness and potential for this realization.  So many must experience life without it in order to return and understand its true worth to them.  Let us be thankful for the grace of love which waits for us all, and informs us in turn of our own capacity to share that mercy with others.

For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them

 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.  And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.  Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.  And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.  But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.  After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.  So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, "Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'  Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground.  Look, there you have what is yours.'  But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.  So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.  Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.  For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.  And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

- Matthew 25:14-30

In our recent readings, Jesus has been teaching the disciples about the end times, and the time of His Second Coming.  In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught:  "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.  And at midnight a cry was heard:  'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'  Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'  But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!'  But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!'  But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."

 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.  And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.  Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.  And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.  But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.  After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.  So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, "Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'  Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground.  Look, there you have what is yours.'  But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.  So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.  Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.  For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.  And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"   My study bible says that this parable illustrates the use of gifts given by God.  We need to understand that even one talent, at the time of Christ, was a great sum of money.  But here in Jesus' parable it represents the goodness that God has given to each person.  The amount that each receives is based on that person's abilities (Romans 12:4-7).  In the ultimate reward however, God does not show partiality, as all are invited to share in the same joy.  The wicked and lazy servant, on the other hand, could not evade responsibility for ignoring his talent.  My study bible says that idleness is as much a rejection of God as outright wickedness.  To bury the talent in the ground is an illustration of using one's God-given gifts for earthly pursuits.  The bankers represent other faithful people to whom the man could have turned to help him use talents wisely.  As there is help available in the Church and from its wealth of traditions, the man hasn't got an excuse.

What are talents, really?  What are they for?  We tend to think of talents as things that are worthwhile only if we can parlay them into some form of remuneration, something profitable in our own lives that can generate an income.  While it's naturally appropriate that we each need to consider our way in the world, it's also appropriate to consider ourselves as people of faith.  Even making our way in the world still comes under the heading of living our lives as those who love God.  How do we reconcile the two?  It's important to recognize that spiritual growth, and the growth of virtue in terms of our relationship to God and to neighbor, isn't really left out of any part of our lives.  Our lives aren't divided up into the life we live as faithful and then a separate life as part of "the world" (6:24).   It's all part of a whole.  What serves our faith life is also good for the rest of our lives.  God gives us talents to learn to develop and to express, and it can indeed be mysterious how those talents serve God's purposes.  What gets to be truly confusing and slavish is thinking that our lives are simply about plugging into what's available in the world, and not about a wholistic sense of the God who knows all the things we need but who also creates us as individuals with particular gifts.  One may have a gift of intelligence for a particular subject, another may love car engines, still another a passion for creating order.  Even our gifts for humility may serve us well in terms of how we express ourselves and even make a living in the world.   One may find that an intensive prayer life actually helps us to create and find the gifts and talents that help us in the rest of our lives.  Prayer can nurture talents in a number of ways, helping us to focus, to calm anxieties, to put into perspective insights into our lives, and to order our lives.   What the parable seems to suggest to us is that burying who we truly are, ways in which God has blessed us with gifts in one way or another, is the truly great sin.  Splitting our lives into the things we need to do in the world and neglecting the internal life where we find God's gifts isn't effective in terms of living the full and spiritually profitable life we need.  This fullness of life comes from finding ourselves within that relationship to God who created us and blessed us with innate capacities.  Let us turn to our Source to help us to find true talent and capabilities and ways to develop them as we are called to in each of our lives, for God's purposes.  We might be highly surprised at the capacities we find and talents we may multiply and use in our lives, with God's help.  What we trust in God to do is lead us to use our skills for God's purposes.  In the context of Jesus' discourse on end times and His Second Coming, we understand that this is our direction for being truly good servants, caring for all that God has placed in our charge.