Friday 21 June 2013

Background

This passage offers an interesting picture of how communities ofthat time were organised, and may surprise us with the amount ofresponsibility given to slaves. Even one talent was a large amountof money. It has been suggested that it equalled more than 15 yearswages. So the burden of getting it right would have been veryheavy. It is also clear that the story is not interested in what wemight call 'being fair'. This is not a society where equalopportunities are an issue! The issue is whether or not people taketheir responsibilities seriously.

The context in this Gospel is about being prepared for a finalmeeting with God on what some would call the Day of Judgement. Thesuggestion seems to be that being ready for that day involves beingable to account for any responsibility which was committed to eachperson during their life. The accolade "good and trustworthy" (vv.21, 23) suggests that these two qualities must always gotogether.

The hard work that might have been involved for each slave istaken for granted, although the rewards are very impressive.However, a lack of response, caused by fear - or for any otherreason - is not only unacceptable, but is to be very severelypunished. Unlike some of the stories Jesus told, this one seems tosuggest a God whose demands must be fulfilled if a person is to beconsidered worthy. The verses about what is given and what takenaway raise even more questions about God's attitude to thecommunity of faith.

To Ponder

• Jesus sometimes offered exaggerated pictures in order toencourage people to think through what they really believed. Do youthink this might be one of those occasions?

• How helpful or unhelpful do you find these images of reward andpunishment as you think of God?

• How might the idea of taking responsibilities this seriouslyaffect your daily decisions?