The third servant in the parable is condemned as “wicked and lazy” (v 26) and the talent is taken away from him. But the audience of Jesus may have realized that what the third servant does with the money is both legal and safe.

In what way then does the parable disorient us and lead us to a different outlook? The opportunistic and hardnosed master (surely not an image of God) expected him to take a risk and to obtain results, not to play it safe by hiding the money in the ground. It is easy enough to dismiss this as a greedy person’s point of view. But in life, one who does not take risks may eventually lose out. “Use it, or lose it,” goes a saying. Lose what?

Talents, skills, opportunities, connections—the list is endless. And this may well be true of eternal life. Jesus teaches that whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever would lose his life for the sake of Jesus will find it (Mt 16:25).

Jesus himself may be regarded as a model of “reckless living.” He is careless of his reputation: associating with sinners and outcasts, healing on the Sabbath, criticizing the religious leaders. Is he not telling us by word and example that one cannot save anything without taking a risk? Those who do not take a risk, those who try to save by not caring for people in need will lose everything. But if we do the “sacrificial losing” called for in the process of serving others, we will find ourselves saved for eternal life.

Brothers and sisters: On the subject of fraternal charity you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Nevertheless we urge you, brothers and sisters, to progress even more, and to aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.

“The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.”

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’

His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’

His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter?

Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with 10.

For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ ”