22nd Sunday After Pentecost - Year A (Matthew 25:14-30)

It is said that familiarity breeds contempt. Perhaps this holds true with the parables of Jesus as much as with anything else, and, if not contempt, than at least boredom and a sense of déjà vu. We might do well to hear today’s parable recast in more contemporary terms. A wealthy person going on a around the world cruise summoned his investment portfolio managers, giving one 500 million, one 200 million, and one 100 million dollars to invest. The one who had been given the 500 million invested in shady derivatives and other high risk deals made 500 million more. The one given 200 million followed suit and also made a 100% return. The final investor, having looked more deeply into the underlying market and fearing a collapse of both the market and the banks, decided to put the money in a safe deposit box. The first two investors managed to get in and out before the collapse having made a made a huge return. The final of the three had been correct in foreseeing what would happen to the markets but his timing was off by a few months and the capital he had preserved was given as a bonus to the first investor. That final investor had his “McMansion” foreclosed upon and ended up working for a credit union. Weeping and gnashing of teeth indeed!
So then, to what shall we compare the Reign of God? The Reign of God is like a Wall Street investor who is rewarded for taking risks. Really? This parable has long appealed to our American experience of a somewhat benevolent capitalism. In light of recent events, and the ruin brought to many by a much more malevolent economic reality, we are forced, perhaps, to look at the parable in a different light. Even the oft repeated attempt to define the word talent by its literal English transliteration meaning aptitude or ability seems naïve in our current situation.
A few points might help us come to terms with this parable. First of all, everything belongs to God. Secondly, in God’s economy there is only abundance. And, finally, it is our faith in that abundance, or lack thereof that influences our ability to risk everything.