Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord

 

 "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.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been 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 

 

After Christ has been speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem (including the temple) and the end times, including judgment at His second coming, He began to teach parables regarding this time in which we await His return.  In yesterday's reading, He gave the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins:  "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 wee 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."

 

  "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.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been 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 comments on this parable that it illustrates the use of gifts given by God.  A talent was a measurement weight of precious metal, gold or silver.  Even one talent was a huge sum of money, equaling the wages of twenty years' work for a laborer.  Here the wealth represents the goodness which God has bestowed on every person.  The amount each receives is based on that person's abilities, my study Bible says (see Romans 12:4-7).  In the ultimate reward, however, God shows no partiality, as all are invited to share the same joy (verses 21, 23).  The wicked and lazy servant, my study Bible explains, could not evade responsibility for ignoring his talent, because idleness is as much a rejection of God as outright wickedness.  To bury one's 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 his talents wisely.  As help was available to him in the Church, the man has no excuse.  

 

Today's parable is another about judgment; perhaps more specifically it is about the use of our time and God-given capacities while we live in this life and await the return of Christ (and the judgment which comes at the same time).  While we're  not all given the same amount to make use of, we all have equal opportunity to do so.  It's important to note that the lord of the servants does not make them compete with one another, but simply asks them to be faithful.  The reward is equal regardless of the difference in the final outcome of production.  To both the one who initially had five talents (and made five), and to the one who has two talents (and made two more), the lord's reply is the same:  "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord."   Note that the lord doesn't use the language of production and profit; the word here is that the good and faithful servant has been faithful over those few things given him; by so doing each is rewarded as ruler over many things.  It's only the wicked and lazy servant, who does not bother even to invest the talent with someone who could have helped him who does not reap a reward.  Or perhaps we should say that he indeed suffers judgment; even what he has is taken away and given to others.  Jesus teaches, "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."   Note that the judgment upon the wicked and lazy servant is not simply that he is without reward, but rather that he is a debtor.  The language is such that he must not only give up what he has to the others who made the effort, but he's consigned to what sounds like prison or penal sentence:  "And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."   This is the language of exile and imprisonment.  Notice that the main thing that is being rewarded is not outcome nor profit, but faithfulness.  Being good, the servants who are rewarded are those who have been faithful.  And so, this is the message of judgment.  Our faithfulness creates a reward, a kingdom, the joy of our Lord.  Faithlessness, not even investing attention or time to those who can guide us, or with those who will carry out the work of being faithful to Christ's commands, is in fact a metaphor for indebtedness, as we do "nothing" with what we've been given; there has been no good faith effort involved at all.  This is the way we are to await His return, alert to the opportunities to faithfully use our capabilities in life, whatever they may be, and not to bury our lives focusing only on the earthly.  The value is in our faithful choices; the lives we're given have a purpose, and that purpose asks us for a certain application or orientation, a way to the chances to act as a good and faithful servant in the ways in which we are able.  Let us be true to that purpose.  

 

 

Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord

 

 "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.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been 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." 

 

- Matthew 25:14–30 

 

In our recent readings, Christ has been discoursing on the "end times" to His disciples.  In yesterday's reading, He told the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, to illustrate how we need to remain prepared for this time:   "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."

 

 "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.  Ener into the joy of your lord.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been 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."  On today's parable of the Talents, my study Bible comments that this parable illustrates the use of gifts given by God.  It's hard to overestimate the indicated value of the talents named here; my study Bible comments that even one talent was a great sum of money.  In today's money, one gold talent (a measure of weight) would be estimated at approximately $2,270,000.00.  In the parable, a talent represents the goodness which God has bestowed upon each person.  My study Bible comments that the amount each receives is based on that person's abilities (Romans 12:4-7).  There is no partiality shown by God in the ultimate reward; here in the parable, all are invited to share the same joy.  The wicked and lazy servant, it notes, could not evade responsibility for ignoring his talent, as idleness is as much a rejection of God as clear wickedness.  To bury the talent in the ground is a way to symbolize using a God-given gift for earthly pursuits.  The bankers are representative of other faithful people to whom one can turn to help use talents wisely -- since help was available to this man in the parable, my study Bible says, he has no excuse.  

As we consider the parable of the Talents, we might be inclined to ask ourselves what a talent means in context.  Certainly the modern use of the word "talent" comes from this parable; the original word is a Greek term, τάλαντον/talanton.  So, given the parable's meaning, we can think of talents in all kinds of ways to indicate the resources available to us and given by God.  Our intelligence becomes in this understanding a "talent," our capacity for hard work, even our capacity for prayer.  Whatever God-given resources we have become talents in this scope of the parable, for all that we have is given to us by God.  This parable lends to us also an understanding of the sacramental, in which what God gives to us is returned to God for God's blessing -- and so that it might be used in the ways that God deems most profitable.  In the elevation of the Eucharistic gifts in the Orthodox Church, the priest prays, "Thine own of Thine own, we offer to Thee, O Lord, in behalf of all, and for all."  In this sense, all the world becomes sacrament, becomes even "talents" given to us as good to be used, cultivated, nurtured, cared for as good stewards who are meant to understand what they are about.  In fact, everything available to us becomes a part of God's goodness given to us.  If we take into account this statement from St. Paul, that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28), then, in fact, all things -- even every event in our lives, nominally "good" or "bad" -- become part of the supply of talents we're given to do with what we can, to make profitable as we can.  In counting up our resources and gifts, let us not neglect the gift of time, which is such a part and parcel of our world, and gives us also the benefit of the possibility of repentance.  Time is what we have, albeit in a limited quantity, and a great part of Christ's warnings go to the effect that we must use it wisely.  The ultimate fairness involved in the eventual judgment of these servants and what they do becomes not a question of how much they produce, but how much effort they put into being profitable with what they're given in the first place, no matter the size or the amount.  It's not a question of having, therefore, but of doing.  Even when we look at the stories of Christ's encounters with people in the Gospels, we can see His emphasis not on what they have, but what they do, what they put into this spiritual struggle and journey.  In Matthew's Gospel, He encounters the woman of Canaan, a Gentile, who -- even though He wants to remain hidden -- continues to pester Him to heal her daughter of a demon.  He even hands her what seems an insult ("It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs"); but she responds in a way that manages to be humble and witty at the same time ("It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs").   Christ tells her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire" (see Matthew 15:21-28).  In St. Mark's Gospel, Jesus comes down from the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter and John, and encounters the rest of the disciples, surrounded by a crowd, with scribes disputing with His disciples over the healing of a young boy.  His father has brought the boy to the disciples, but they could do nothing.  Christ responds with a chastisement over the lack of faith evident in this failure:  "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me."  When Jesus tells the father he must have faith, the man pleads, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"   Jesus responds by healing the boy as the crowd comes running together again.  (See Mark 9:14-29.)  But both the Gentile woman, and the man whose son needed healing, even though they seemed "short" on resources, show evidence of making an effort even with what meager resources of faith they have -- and they are rewarded.   So let us take the parable of the talents in the context of Christ's prophesy of end times, and that we must always be ready for His return.  It's our efforts that count, and that's what He makes clear here.  He asks us to try with the earnestness we possess, with whatever we're given.  Let us be faithful, even over the "few things" we have.

 

 

Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord

 

 "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 ad 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.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been 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 speaking to the disciples about "end times," prophesying both the destruction of the temple and also His Second Coming and judgment.  In yesterday's reading, He told this parable:  "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."

 

  "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 ad 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.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been 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 comments that this parable is an illustration regarding the use of gifts which are given by God.  Jesus uses the talent as a measure of such gifts.  Across the ancient Greek and Roman influenced world of international trade, a talent (Greek τάλαντον/talanton) was a very large sum of money (it was a weight measurement for a pure metal, either gold or silver; approximately 75 pounds, according to one estimate).  My study Bible continues by saying that the amount each one receives is based on that person's abilities (Romans 12:4-7).  It notes that God doesn't show partiality in the ultimate reward -- as we should not ethat all are invited to share in the same joy.  But at the same time, and comparable to the parable in yesterday's reading about the Wise and Foolish Virgins, the wicked and lazy servant could not evade responsibility for ignoring his talent.  My study Bible says that idleness is as much a rejection of God as outright wickedness.  That he buried his talent in the ground suggests that he used his God-given gifts solely for earthly pursuits.  My study Bible also comments that the bankers represent other faithful people to help him use his talents wisely.  As help was available to to him in the Church, this man has no excuse.

Once again, today's parable is given as a warning and indication of the judgment to come at Christ's return.  The word for "talents" in modern English derives its meaning from this parable in the Bible.  This is the way in which common understandings come from Scripture, Biblical literature.  If we think of talents as being that which is of weight or substance, it simply adds to the understanding here.  For these talents are God-given, we are to understand, In some way, they come from the ultimate Source of weight or meaning, of substance, which is God.  Therefore, there is an even greater meaning pressing in upon us here:  those things that God shares with us that are of true weight or substance, of true value, are all the more important to use as God's will would teach us to use them.  For example, we are given bodies, beauty, attractiveness.  We can use such to profit through works that are (for example) pornographic in nature, or we may find that beauty, attractiveness, health can be part of the gifts we use in life to put to use providing beauty to the world, adding character and meaning to such, helping others, embodying prayer, building good things, and teaching good things, including helping children and families.  We can find that we have a writing talent, and of course we have choices in how we will use that talent.  We might have a talent for singing and music.  Our music can be music of the angels that inspires and brings beauty and well-being to others, or we can sing with lyrics that foster hatred and violence.  Whatever our talents, we all have ways to use them to our advantage or disadvantage -- or even more pertinently, in ways that produce abundance for the Kingdom, the things of the Kingdom, which would be also somehow connected to the fruit of the Spirit:  "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (see Galatians 5:22-23).  For these are the profits of a life invested in God's word and in the Spirit of God, in faith.  We have choices in terms of what we wish to show and to give to the world, or how we desire to commit to God's word, to faith in God's work as a disciple of Christ.  We all may practice acts of charity and compassion when we have opportunity, and the odd thing is that we will find out that God's gifts -- no matter how meagerly "talented" we might think we are -- suffice to bring great and generous good to others in ways that will surpass our expectations.  As St. Paul explains, God's grace is such that it works with even the things about ourselves we consider defective and insufficient.  After praying to be released from an affliction, he was told:  "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  "Therefore." writes St. Paul, "most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-9).   Whatever our "talents," we should all remember that because we are given life, we always have things to work with, resources to use in our lives.  Even those seemingly most afflicted with handicaps have wonderful smiles and joy that radiate to others, delight to give to those who know them and love them.  But we also have ways to bear fruit that have to do with our devotion to the Lord and Christ's teachings that may be done without others even knowing, such as when we bear our own crosses and suffer through our commitment in His name, or seek in prayer to find Christ's direction for us, devoting our hearts and lives to Christ's mercy and love, even in the company of the saints of the Church (the "bankers" according to my study Bible).  Let us consider all the ways in which we may use our talents and enter into the joy of our Lord.

 

 

 

 

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

 

 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants ad 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 give 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.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been 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 (beginning with the reading of Saturday the 11th).  In yesterday's reading, He gave them the parable of the Ten Virgins:  "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."

 

  "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants ad 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 give 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.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been 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 comments on this parable that it illustrates the use of gifts given by God.  It is from this parable that the modern sense of the word "talent" in English gets its definition, but in the ancient world, a talent was a huge sum of money.  It was actually the Greek term (τάλαντον) for a certain measure of weight in pure precious metal such as silver or gold.  Even one talent, my study Bible says, was a great sum of money.  But here, Jesus uses it to represent teh goodness which God has bestowed on each person.  The amount each receives is based on that person's abilities (Romans 12:4-7).  God does not show partiality in the ultimate reward, it notes, for all are invited to share the same joy.  The wicked and lazy servant could not evade responsibility for ignoring the talent he was given; idleness, therefore, is as much a rejection of God as outright wickedness.  To bury the talent in the ground is considered an illustration of using one's God-given gifts for earthly pursuits; we might also notice that it is a simulation of burial, of death.  The bankers, my study Bible says, represent other faithful people to whom the man could have turned to help him use his talents wisely.  Since help was available to him in the Church, it says, the man has no excuse.

What is a talent?  As noted above, in Jesus' time, a talent was a great sum of money.  Let's keep in mind that at that time there was widespread international trade, especially through shipping across the Mediterranean, therefore established measurement equivalents, country by country, for exchange.  In Jesus' parable, we might consider the talent a metaphor for life itself, but that would neglect to notice the differences in amounts given to the various people.  Instead, we can understand this parable through the talents representing abilities, not limited to what we commonly call talents such as for artistic skill or other abilities.  A talent, therefore, is something precious, which we can use to exchange for other things, to make a living, to invest, to develop, to use our efforts to magnify into something else.  In this case, a talent can be something we consider spiritual, such as a talent for prayer, a capacity for faith, and an ability to put to use our energy and intelligence for various works in our own lives.  It's as if God has invested something in us, and then we are responsible through our lives for what we do with God's gifts.  Do we have a capacity to be charitable toward others?  Can we be creative in terms of how we take in Christ's teachings and learn to apply them in our own lives and our own circumstances?  What spiritual gifts does God give us and how do we use them?  The only thing that is truly deadly in this parable is the failure to apply oneself, the failure to try, or even -- in some sense -- the failure to understand God, or "what manner of spirit we are of" (Luke 9:54-56).  The wicked and lazy servant says, "'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 . . .."  He speaks to the Lord as if the Lord is simply a kind of warlord, a corrupt and aggressive worldly conqueror pillaging territory for graft.  He does not know God at all; He does not understand God even as Creator who has sown everything in this world, scattered seed everywhere.  His overwhelming fear of God tells us that He does not know God at all; he is both wicked and lazy because his impulse is false and his laziness means he has made no effort at communion and prayer, at loving God or even coming to know God with heart, soul, spirit,and mind. See John 1:4:8.  Let us also keep in mind that Jesus speaks of "servants" and that He is teaching to the disciples -- and through them to us, who consider ourselves His followers.  Our duty as servants is to work the works of faith; in other words, to live a faithful life (John 6:27-29).  It's not enough to say "I believe" but our faith must be embodied through our lives; we seek God's guidance in how to do so through a prayerful life.  Above all, let us note that a talent, in monetary terms, was a means of exchange.  Therefore so we should consider Christ's life above all as teaching us that the world is to be transfigured.  Are we given hard things in life?  Do we have hardship, or strikes against us?  Perhaps we have special challenges, or "wicked and lazy" people who have given us misery.  Through the Cross, Christ teaches us not simply to cast off anything as simply 'bad' but to transform our lives by seeking Him, through repentance and with God's help.  Everything in this model is exchange, making one thing into another, transforming even what is bad or causes us suffering into occasion for prayer, transcendence, or repentance, for with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).  Therefore, the one really "bad" thing in this parable is not to try, not to know God, not to find what is  possible for us with Gods' help and mercy and compassion and grace, and all the assistance of saints and angels and fellow faithful.  This is the only way God judges, it seems to me, if we but look really closely at what Jesus is teaching us here.  Therefore we will not be judged on what we produce in a worldly sense, on a material sense of "success," but rather we will be measured in terms of our spiritual lives, our love for the things of God and the extravagance of that love with which we invest (Luke 21:1-4, John 12:1-8).

 

 

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.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been 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 his 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 yesterday's reading, Jesus told the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins:  "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."

 "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.'   He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been 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 his 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.'"   When we think about this parable, it's important to understand that even one talent (which was a measurement of weight of silver or gold) was a considerable sum of money.  In the parable, it represents the goodness that God has bestowed on each person.  It is through this parable that the word "talent" has come to mean what it means to us today:  a gift or ability.  My study bible says that the amount each receives is based on that person's abilities (Romans 12:4-7).  There is no partiality shown in the ultimate reward, as all are invited to share in the same joy of the lord.   My study bible adds that the wicked and lazy servant could not evade responsibility for ignoring his talent, as idleness (or a sin of omission) is as much a rejection of God as outright wickedness.  To bury the talent in the ground, according to commentary by Pope St. Gregory the Great, is to use one's gifts for purely earthly pursuits, and to omit the spiritual.  The bankers are other faithful people to whom one can turn to entrust the use of talents wisely, and to give help and advice.  Since help was available to this man in the Church, there is no excuse.

So what does it mean to use a talent, or a skill, or any of the blessings we have in life?  We assume that all that belongs to us, in any sense, is ultimately a gift from God.  From there, in a sacramental type of life, we return those gifts to God by consecrating them for God's use.  That can happen in prayer when we ask for guidance and direction for our lives.  What should we do?  How do we need to apply ourselves, or use our assets in life?  There are often hidden things we don't expect awaiting our desire to put into use some of the things that we have.  Sometimes a small gesture, like gracing a lovely garden with our care and possibly placing a small statue of Mary, the Mother of God in one corner, can be enough to signal to others a love of God's beauty and grace, and to then feed and inspire others through this gesture of beauty.  We might take any possession, such as a room in our homes, and decorate a simple corner with a few icons of Christ or of saints who are meaningful to us.  These gestures remind us that we can "repurpose" anything in our lives to reflect our faith, to remind us of our spiritual connection to God, and how that is at work through our worldly lives in our devotion.  Of course all kinds of talents can be used in all kinds of ways, whether we might have financial expertise and help our Church with wise expenditures or investments, or we have construction or painting abilities and help to build or repair, or possibly we contribute a singing voice to a choir.  There is no gift from God that cannot be used in service, to make the profit on the talent that the Master our Lord is looking for.  It's important to note that this Master relies on us to do His work in the world, to create the profits and fruitfulness He hopes for.  In that we become more consciously aware that Christ truly works through us -- we don't wait for the God somewhere "out there" to do something; through prayer we connect with our Lord and seek guidance for how to live our lives, and this can also happen through the "bankers" in the parable, those in the Church, be it through prayer with the saints or our fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers in the Church.  As such this Kingdom truly works in us and among us, for as we know and have been promised, God is within us and so works through us.  There is no limit to what a talent may do or be; from the time of the earliest monastics in the deserts, prayer itself has been understood as something which creates enormous good in the world.  Simply by committing to a daily prayer practice, one creates spiritual wealth that we can't necessarily know or see at work -- but we should be assured of the good that it does, even for those whom we don't know who benefit spiritually through our prayer that we add to the world.  Let us remember, also, that this parable is given within the context of Jesus' teachings about the end times and His Second Coming, and also in the context of the judgment that accompanies His return.  We are to think about the end product of our lives as that which we can look back upon and consider how we contribute spiritually to the world -- how whatever gifts we have might be something that adds to the spiritual treasure which Christ invested in all of us -- and in the world -- through His Incarnation and life in the world.  Any spiritual investment that we make, then, becomes a part of the gospel going out to all the world, and we enter into the work begun by others.  We all enter into others' labors (John 4:38), and continue this great work begun long before we were conceived.  St. Paul writes, "For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?" (Romans 8:22-24).  We enter into a new creation, with a hope that still burns for a future we don't and cannot see.  And yet, looking to the return of the Master, we invest in His name, we work in His name, we hope for more fruitfulness in His name, and we trust to God's indwelling in us and among our communities.  He entrusts us with this great work in how we use His gifts, so that even the whole of the creation is part of this great work, even a liturgy of creation praising Creator.  Our worst experiences, in this context, become even occasions for fruitfulness, as we repurpose and rededicate whatever we have in life to the service of God.  In this way the world is transformed and is sacrament.  It all depends on how we use the gifts and "talents" we're given, and to what purpose we dedicate our lives for the Master.  All of it is precious in His sight.

Well done, good and faithful servant

 "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.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been 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 his 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 current readings, Jesus is in Jerusalem, and it is the Passion Week.  He has made His Triumphal Entry, cleansed the temple, and been questioned by the various groups of the leadership.  Outside the temple, He began to speak to His disciples of the time to come:  the war that is coming to Jerusalem (and the destruction of the great temple) and also the end of the age, and His eventual return.  In Tuesday's reading, He taught that only the Father knows the day and hour of His return, but that His disciples must be ready, because "the Son of Man will return at an hour you do not expect."  On Wednesday, He taught of the faithful and wise servant, master of the household, who kept good order in preparation for the master's return.  Yesterday, He taught the parable of the wise and foolish virgins.  "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."

 "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."  My study bible says, "This parable illustrates the use of gifts given by God.  A talent was a great sum of money and came to designate a special gift or endowment."  I think it's important that we see from the illustration in this parable that each person is given their own "amount" to handle, according to ability.  There is a kind of equality in the inequality here, if you will:  each is judged by the master according to the merit of ability or capacity.  There is no comparison here except that. Again, as in so many of the recent examples Jesus is giving, He illustrates the concept of stewardship as we await His return.

"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.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been 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 his 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."  Here, my study bible tells us:  "The Lord came after a long time but exacted full accountability.  The wicked and lazy servant could not evade responsibility for ignoring his talent.  We are stewards of every gift, using each for our own and our neighbor's salvation.  Idleness is a renunciation of God's grace, as well as a lack of love for God and humanity.  Since people are managers, or stewards, of God's gifts, each of us will give account of how we used the abundance of gifts given to us."

The sense in which we look at today's reading really depends on how we understand the word "talent," in some sense.  What is a talent?  What do you consider to be a talent?  I think it's important that we understand that as good stewards we're put in charge of some kind of goods that don't really belong to us.  They are gifts.  We serve a master who is the true owner of the talents, whose household we're "managing."  In that sense the "talents" require good stewardship, with a consciousness of the owner who has entrusted them to us.  So, how do you think of talents?  What are they for, how do we use them?  It seems to me that the profitability of talents, in this sense, is something that must be measured on terms the master will be pleased with.  How we use those talents depends on who and what we're trying to please.  If we compare these "talents" (originally meaning a sum of money) to the "oil" in the lamps of the virgins of yesterday's parable, then we are more likely to be onto something not evident by using our current meaning of the word "talent" (as evolved from this literature).  Oil in the lamps was likened to mercy and grace; and here, talents given by this Master really would seem to indicate a spiritual capability, a kind of potential in our lives for more than merely some kind of self-aggrandizement through accomplishments that look good to others, the kind of success we equate with use of talent in a purely material sense.  If we look at the talents in this different way, then we come to a completely different picture than we usually associate with the word "talent."  We then have to start to think about what our spiritual capacities are for understanding where God would lead us in our lives, what our Master would choose for us to do with the good gifts He has given us.  In that context, the best use of our talents isn't necessarily winning a contest in which somehow we're measured against others, but rather how far we go in using all that is at our disposal (talents, resources, energy, opportunities) to create a life well-lived, one that reflects the glory of God in those lamps that are planted within each of us, in which we are like the salt and light of discipleship that was spoken about in the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus taught to "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven." Over the course of the past several readings, we've spoken a lot about memory, and how important and essential the concept of memory is to our understanding of faith.  Here, the example is clear:  the "good and faithful" steward is someone who keeps alive the memory of the master, even when He is delayed.  This is a memory of trust, with an attitude that is willing to have the courage to try.  Again, there's a clue here that this use of talents isn't about a contest:  rather, it's about faith -- and material success or failure isn't really the point, but perhaps the courage to take the risk of faith.  The one who fails is the one who, out of fear rather than faith (or trust), "played it safe."  Let's take it a step further and open up our thinking about faith and talent.  Where does God call us?  How does God draw you out of your "safe shell" or hiding place and into the light you may be asked to shine?  That is the risk worth taking, the good steward's use of the talents with which we've been entrusted.