Investment of life

The Parable of the Talents revolves around the master’s extended absence and the servants waiting for their master’s return. The master stands for Jesus as the Son of Man, his return for the end of time, and the accounting of the servants for the final judgment.

Matthew places the parable in the context of the household, even as he is particularly concerned about the growing Christian community.

In the cultural world of the time, there were many servants who served as managers of their masters’ properties or estates. Some were learned enough, with abilities on administration and accounting. Matthew wishes to emphasize the person’s great responsibility in taking care of the master’s properties, here represented as “talents.” He expects from the leaders of the early Christian communities to be trustworthy and sensible servants, to care for the greatest wealth of the Church — the Christian faith. Such is also the concern of Paul when he writes to Timothy to keep the faith (2 Tm 4:7), “to stir into flame the gift of God” (2 Tm 1:6), and not to be “lovers of money” (2 Tm 3:2).

Peter, likewise, urges the elders of the Church to tend the flock of God willingly and eagerly and not for shameful profit (1 Pt 5:2). In whatever way, every person receives from God certain gifts or talents—a package coming with the gift of life. Life is a gift from God, and what we do with our life is our gift back to God.

Spiritual writer Henri Nouwen shares: “Life is just an interruption of eternity... and our short lives on earth are sowing times. Life is an investment. People can benefit through our life as we go on bearing fruit even after we die, since the legacy we leave for the people we have known finds its fullness after we are gone” (Henri Nouwen and Spiritual Polarities).