In this week’s gospel reading, Jesus tells a parable about a man who left three of his servants in charge of large amounts of money while he was away on a trip. When he returned, he found that two of them had used the funds in trade and had increased the principal. One had kept the original amount safe by burying it out of fear.
This parable gives us many things to explore about the life of faith, like the way God invites us into increasing the love and justice and compassion in the world, but I’ve been struck by the fear that immobilizes the third servant. As we read about the interactions between the man and the first two servants, we don’t find any fear at all. They receive the funds, put them to use and receive praise and “joy” when the man returns. It makes me wonder if the third servant’s perceptions of the man as harsh and opportunistic are shaped by his fear more than reality. Did the third servant’s expectations create a situation where, immobilized by fear, his inaction instigated the very response from the man the servant was trying to avoid?
Fear is a powerful emotion. Of course, it is important to pay attention to the things we fear that can hurt us or affect our future. It is also important to notice that sometimes fear immobilize us just as it does the third servant in Jesus’ parable. The third servant is unable to trust the man, but we are able to trust in God’s love and faithfulness to us. God, who is the source of life and everything we have, blesses us and all people. God walks with us through the harshness and difficulties of life.
As always, we remember that parables are not to be read literally. They invite us to question and ask what Jesus is trying to say about God, especially the parables near the end of Matthew’s gospel. I do not think God will cast us away for fearful inaction. I do think this parable has reminded me this week that fear can stop me from making the most of the opportunities that arise, and sometimes fear is making things more difficult and my actions are not offering the protection I hope they will.
Peace,