Recently our Sunday reading was the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25:14-30. This is an interesting story with a couple of levels of understanding that we can use to reflect upon.

In this story, a wealthy man heading out of town entrusts his property to three servants. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability, where a talent is a measurement used to weigh precious gold or silver (equivalent to approx. 34 kgs)

The men with the five and two talents trade them and double the wealth entrusted to them. The third man buries the money as he is afraid that the master will punish him if he loses the money.

The two men who invested and double their portion are congratulated as good and faithful servants and the other man is labelled as lazy and wicked.

At a cursory glance, it appears that Jesus is congratulating two men for their great wisdom in being able to double their investment while a third is reprimanded for not taking any risks and merely burying his, but this is not a story about how well these men have invested money, it is not a story of taking risks on the stock exchange.

Often this parable is used to encourage us to make use of our God given talents because of the obvious similarity of the English word ‘talents’ to the biblical unit of measurement. This is a terrific way of looking at the parable but, I would suggest that there is an even deeper meaning that we can get out of it.

The most precious thing that God gives us, as his people, is his mercy and his love. It is a free gift from God that is unable to be measured. It is priceless. He gives it to us freely and abundantly and this parable is all about what we do with that gift.

What we cannot afford to do with this gift is selfishly hold onto it or bury it like the man in the parable does, no when we use the gift properly, we ‘spend it’ as lavishly and generously, as God has done for us. When we do this, it will increase in value as it rebounds back and forth amongst all those it is shared with.

We are called to love and show mercy to each other in our school community but to also do everything in our power to look out for those in the wider community, especially as we enter the season of Advent leading up to Christmas where so many families are doing it tough.

It is not enough simply to live out the Christian life. We need to speak and tell people about Jesus, whose supreme gift of love is revealed in his death on the cross, and sealed when he conquered death and rose again in order that all your sins and all my sins are forgiven.

Will we be judged to be the ‘wicked lazy servant’, who refuses to share God’s love and mercy, or will we be the ‘good and faithful servant’?

Our challenge is to not be selfish or timid with the gift of love and mercy that God has given us, but encourage and love one another, so we can fulfil the mission he wants of us.

If you or your child would like a chat or would like to make use of my services in any way, please contact the school Ph: 4230 8500 email: info@sjchsdow.catholic.edu.au or by contacting your child’s PALS teacher.