The parable of the talents yields the stark lesson: "For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have in abundance, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away." (Mtt 25: 29) This begs the question as to have what? Following the parable the "what" is something given by the master. The talent is a share of the property that is given to the slaves for investment and ultimately intended as returning to the master. This brings to mind the maxim "grace builds on nature." All I am is gift. I did not ask to exist and my being is all dependent on God's grace. He is the ground of being. Since "God is light and in him there is no darkness at all" (1 Jn 1: 5), if all I am is darkness, I will have worse than nothing should I be found to live a lie: "If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and we do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son, cleanses us from all sin." (1 Jn 1: 6-7). Anything I do "have" will be destroyed in God's presence when the Universe is consummated at the end of time. St Paul tells us: "The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (1 Cor 15: 26) Let us therefore be open to life and to putting that life to good use so that when our master calls us into his presence we may rejoice in his generosity, mercy and love.
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