A New Take on an Old Classic [Proper 28A]
The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Matthew 25:14-30 A new take on an old classic The word “ talent ” is the worst thing that ever happened to this parable. The worst thing. To us – especially those of us for whom English is our primary language – the word “ talent ” means an ability – an ability gifted to us by God or genetics for which we are responsible. If one hopes to live up to his or her potential, he or she must develop that talent – take the raw material and transform it, through hard work and effort, into something useful. Growing up in the Pentecostal tradition, a tradition that opts for the most literal reading of the Bible possible with little regard for literary style, the use of the English word “ talent ” in Matthew's parable, turned this story into a very cut-and-dry allegory. As much as an allegory can be taken literally, this one was. And so I used to hear fairly often as a boy, “ If you don't use your talen...