Jesus tells the parable about the talents after He has warned His disciples that the Son of Man will be returning one day in glory and that there will be an accounting. In His preaching He has spoken of God’s unbounded mercy and love, and He has demonstrated this in His ministry by the way He has reached out to bring healing and help to those who are sick and poor, and all kinds of sinners. Jesus shows us how the gift of the kingdom is like a businessman who gives different sums of money to three of his employees and expects them to use them well. The first two make a good profit and are invited to take on greater responsibility and enjoy the boss’s good favor. The third does not do anything with the money but just buries it in the ground to makes sure it remains secure. The focus of the parable is on this third employee. When he is challenged, he blames his employer because of his severity in dealing with people and admits he was too frightened to take the risk of producing fruit from the gifts he had been given. Everything depended on the image the three employees had of their master, Jesus reveals a picture of a loving God who is unlimited in mercy and kindness but who expects us to respond with a similar extravagance. No doubt among His followers there were those who felt safe with a God of strict justice, whose gifts must be preserved rather than being used to produce some benefit for others. They performed to play safe and watch their back. But the Lord expects His gifts to be appreciated and used to further His kingdom. That’s why this parable ends with a tough reminder to the complacent and lazy that the Lord expects us to imitate His love, not take it for granted.
We are called to have our own change of heart and recognize that it is possible to live with less: rather than holding on to what we have, to be willing to share what has been given to us. The Gospel confirms that if we make an effort to put our faith into practice and use our gifts fruitfully, we will indeed enter the joy of the Master.