Again, Matthew leaves the message open for the interpretation of the reader/hearer.
One can either read this from the perspective of how badly slaves (under Empire) were treated by their masters with regard to "their property" (taken from the people when they were made slaves), or you can hear it as God's expectations on how we use what God has given toward the furthering of the Kingdom.
Either way, the story presents us with these facts as part of the picture:
1. The talents never belonged to the slaves, but were generated by the property owner.
2. It was not to the Steward that these things were given for investment, but all the slaves.
* the word doulon in the context of 1st Century Israel meant slaves
the enslavement of peoples under Rome was horrific, as in later periods of history
slave owners took what they wanted, because they had the power, wealth and status under
Rome that allowed them to do that - "reap where they did not sow, gather where they
did not scatter" - the harshness of their occupation and oppression was such that they
took what they wanted that once belonged to others, and made more on their backs
Of course I believe this is about Grace and Agape Love. God is DIFFERENT with values, especially over power and wealth, and calls us to be different in what we value as well.
We do not originate them. They do not come from within us, except that God has put them there.
God is the giver of all of it.
Agape Love, as we understand, has been given to all people, like faith. God has chosen to meet us with Agape Love, even in our disobedience. God has actively committed to our well-being, despite our sinfulness. God clearly expects the same from us with one another.
The sin of the servant who hid the talent (having only been given one portion because he/she was not capable of handling more), is that he/she did not invest Agape Love or Grace in the world, and therefore produce more of the same in the world, this part of God's Kingdom.
Agape is active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, and especially the most vulnerable. When we invest that in the world around us, what we started with does not diminish, but rather multiplies, grows, expands in the world around us and transforms it.
Grace is undeserved loving mercy shared freely. When we invest that in the world around us, without judgment, what we started with does not diminish but grows, expands, spreads in the world around us and transforms it.
Just as the empire values were addressed by Jesus as the "leaven of the Pharisees," that spread hatred, greed, lust for power and desire for status, so when Kingdom values are spread "like leaven", they produce more love, grace, mercy and peace because they come from a place of justice, equity, equality and humility.
We did not create Agape Love or Grace. God gives them to us, they originate from God. We are called to be servants who invest them in the world in order that they may grow and spread, and transform the world around us - this part of God's Kingdom.
This has nothing to do with coins or money, investments of them or wealth. Empire makes it all about that. How we might USE those things in Agape Love and Grace is as close as they get to the center of this parable.
This has to do with true stewardship of God's most valuable gifts - Agape Love and Grace.
What kind of leaven are you spreading?
What are you putting out in the world around you?
What has God given you freely that is truly valued in the Kingdom?
With what have you been entrusted by God, and what are you doing with it for God?
Are you investing it in the world around you? Are you sharing it so that it may grow?
Pastor Jamie
No comments:
Post a Comment