The lectionary gospel reading for the Second Sunday before Advent as we approach the end of Year A is the so-called Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25.14–30. The most popular interpretation of this is that God gives us abilities and gifts (‘talents’) and leaves us to get on with using them in fruitful and enterprising ways as responsible stewards until he returns and asks us to give an account of what we have done.
But this cannot be what the parable is about! Join us to find out way, and engage with what Jesus is actually teaching.
Just a note – I am looking for the article on this passage. I LOVE the discussion, but also like reading Ian’s presentation. Meanwhile many blessings and thanks for keeping my thinking active, in so called retirement!
Thanks! Article will be posted tomorrow (though you can also find the previous posting if you look hard enough…!)
Thank you Ian. At my age I have learned to ask for help. I am still doing missionary work in Peru. We never retire, we just keep going. I look forward to your columns and helpful thinking. Meanwhile best wishes from the Anglican Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in Lima.
Hi Ian
I’ve been dipping into your blog since the summer and have enjoyed it immensely especially the novel explanations of some texts and the synopsis of the Synod shenanigans.
Regarding the ‘Talents’ I have come to the conclusion over many decades that whilst we have all been called to be witnesses (Acts 1:8) only some have the specific gift of evangelism / mission (Eph 2:11) and God gives his church family many diverse gifts (1 Cor 12) which as a body comes together to build one another up. In other words evangelism is not the domain of each of us individually but of the church corporately.
I’d be interested to read your take on this.
Yes, I would agree with you. But I don’t think the parable of the ‘bags of gold’ says we are all evangelists, but that we are all witnesses.
All of us have been given the treasure of the kingdom to invest in the lives of others.
Kia ora and thank you Ian and James – always a rich trove of wisdom for the journey 🙂
I think each of us has a calling from Jesus – it may relate to a natural ‘talent’ we have or it be in relation to some new aspect or enterprise that we haven’t previously thought about. This call is something we need to listen to all our lives and obey. And it is exciting, if scary at times!
Yes it is. But the most exciting thing is the ‘talent’ or treasure he has given us in the gift of the gospel, by which we might invest eternal in the lives of others.
Amen.
THIS REMINDS ME OF A charity CHAP AT Spring harvest who gave out 10£ notes and asked folks to multiply them and send the proceeds back to him, he told of some who practicaly set up a small business with it,
It also reminds me of Bezaleel and Aholiab in Exodus 31 who crafted all the
beauty of the Tabernacle
Or taking care how we build 1 Corinthians Chapter: 3 But let every man take heed how he buildeth…..Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. Etc.
Are we enhancing the kingdom or like the foolish woman who pulls down her own house Proverbs