Brian’s Reflection: Sat/Sun, Nov 15/16, 2008


Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, 'Master,
I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering
where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in
the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master replied, 'You wicked and
lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I
did not scatter?

- Matt 25: 24ff (Gospel for Sunday)


This is a parable (and a ripping good one at that!!) about one of the central themes of the Bible. (No; it is not about getting punished by God; God does not punish and is not wrathful.) Namely, we human beings are indwelt by the Divine; it is the divine spirit that gives us full human life; and what a waste it is if we do not enter into that full humanity.

When we recognize/understand who we are, then we begin using, at various levels, the gifts that we have been given in the combination of our unique humanity and the eternal, unchanging nature of God.

This parable uses all the imagery it can to make the point that it is sad - very very sad - when a human being never gets the point, never takes the steps to embrace the God Within, and who basically fails to be human.

Wonder what that looks like? Look around the World today; it is staring us in the face.

And now is a good time to look at ourselves too. We have been called to a glorious destiny as human beings. Have we buried it in the ground, never to bear fruit? Or, are we making that initial “investment” grow wonderfully. The more of us that “bury our talents”, the harsher and more barren the World is.

Brian+