Back in the day, I used to love watching the PBS detective mysteries. I still do, because a good mystery always has an unexpected twist that changes the focus of the story and captures the imagination. The parable of the talents in Matthew’s gospel has this same feature, a twist that changes the focus of the story. In this parable, the change evolves from an initial focus on the material world to a focus on the spiritual. A hint of this change begins with the response of the servants to the wealth their master places in their care.
The master entrusts each of his three servants with an amount in proportion to their ability, and without further instruction about what to do next. This is the first interesting twist—they apparently need no instruction in that regard because they know the heart and mind of their master. Their immediate response, therefore, is to follow his example by investing their portion in a manner that protects their master’s best interests. In other words, they do so out of love for him and thus without fear of the results—all but one, that is. This is another interesting twist in the story. Why does this one servant not do as the other two?
This lone servant who buries his portion surely knew the heart and mind of his master like the other two, and yet, he does not imitate his master’s example. Instead, he hoards his portion and refuses to share it with others, forgoing even simple interest on the principal. By his own admission, he acts out of fear to the point where he defends his poor stewardship by characterizing his failure as a kind of respect for the achievements of his master. His excuse falls on deaf ears, however, and his master calls him out as wicked and lazy.
We might wonder why the servant feared his master in this way. The story does not reveal the reason, but we can guess. We know from scripture that the focus of fear is punishment, payback for wrong behavior (1 Jn 4:18). Perhaps this servant feared his master would punish him for making a wrong choice. We’ve all been there. Sometimes we do nothing because we fear that whatever we do will be wrong. In simple terms, this servant acted out of fear because he did not love his master, because in love, there is no fear (1 Jn 4:18). Thus, he did not seek to protect his master’s best interests in whatever way he could, which is the nature of true love (1 Cor 13:4-7). Jesus proved this point beyond measure.
Had this lone servant loved his master, he would have acted in sync with his master’s heart and mind, and therefore sought to imitate his master’s behavior, however meager the results. Simple interest alone would have won the day. In fact, this is why the master praises the other two servants. He praises them for being faithful to his example in caring for their assigned portions, and not because they doubled its value. God always looks to the heart for evidence of motive, rather than outward appearance (1 Chron 28:9; 1 Sm 16:7; Acts 13:2).
Thus, for us, the lesson is clear. The spiritual wealth that Jesus has entrusted to our care is not meant to be hoarded and kept to ourselves. Nor does he ask us to duplicate his achievements. Jesus merely calls us to follow his example and increase the spiritual wealth entrusted to our care by sharing it with others. The wealth that we are to share is none other than the love and peace of God. Remain in my love and keep my commandments, Jesus tells his disciples (Jn 15:9-10). Love of God and neighbor are at the heart and mind of Jesus (Mk 12:29-31). In choosing to follow his example, we know we are on the right path.
In following the example of Jesus, we too know what to do. From within our own circumstances, each of us increases the love and peace of God in our lives by loving what God loves—his children and his creation. We also have not received detailed instructions about what to do in that regard, but we know the heart and mind of Jesus. We know how to imitate his good works (Rm 14:17-19). As Jesus put it to his disciples, “I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you” (Jn 13:15).
Based on the Beatitudes alone, for example, we know to be peacemakers, to show mercy, to be compassionate, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to welcome the stranger. In a special way today, that includes strangers from foreign lands. At the very least, we do not return insult for insult; we do not seek revenge; we do not engage in violent acts or use violent speech. In many ways, we learn from Jesus that love for others means more than wishing them well and sending them on their way without the necessities of life (Jm 2:16). We also know that whatever we do for others, we do for Jesus, even when we do nothing more than offer someone a cup of cold water (Mt 10:42; 25:40).
Even though we know what to do, at times, we have a tendency to think and act like the third servant. We fear making a wrong choice, or that others will reject our efforts at reaching out, and so we do nothing. Or, perhaps we do nothing because we fear that our efforts will not do much good anyway, or the needs of others just seem too overwhelming.
Nevertheless, our calling compels us to reject the choice of the third servant, and act more like the two servants who imitate their master. We can share the love and peace of God with confidence and without fear, for the Lord is with us and he will provide the strength we need (Is 41:10). We treat each other—friend and foe alike—with compassion and respect for their dignity out of love for God and for the sake of peace.
Just as the master would have been satisfied with simple bank interest, so too is God satisfied when we share his love and peace even in small ways. We can do that without fear of the results (Jn 14:27), for doing so is an authentic way of life and spiritual focus that leads to genuine security and well-being for ourselves, our families, and our communities (Lk10:5; Mk 9:50). The love and peace of God simply go hand in hand. The gospel of love is also the gospel of peace (Ep 6:15). Treating others with love and compassion to promote peace is how we increase the spiritual wealth that Jesus has entrusted to our care (1Jn 4:11).
