More Talents

Jesus said, "For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master replied, 'You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” Matthew 25:14-30 

An old friend of my mother's called today to say she and her husband had visited my Mom. We talked about the fact that despite her present physical limitations, she is fully herself, talking happily with her visitors and thanking them for visiting. My mother has been incredible support and strength for so many. She has never had wealth or fame, she stayed home to raise five children, and always took a back seat while my Dad was out front. But she used all of her gifts, all of the time, changing lives and hearts by loving and laughing with friends and strangers alike. Even in such a challenging state, she is trying to make us laugh and encourage everyone.

We read the familiar parable of the talents today. Jesus is teaching the people that we can live with our limitations and bury our talents, or we can put the little we have to good use. We are all tempted to hide away because of limitations and past failures. There is never enough money, time or talent to survive the risks, we might think. But God is calling us out, away from the burial plots and the graves, out to a place of new life and new possibilities. God is inviting us to trsut again and to share the little we have so the world might be fe, so the world might know love again.

Today I ask God to help me offer the gifts and talents I have. May we not be fearful, but instead rise up trusting that God has given us what we need, and God will make us able. May we walk forward today, with the faith to invest the little we have, giving our all to God, so that we might give God's love to others.