Earlier in Luke’s gospel, we read about Jesus’ disciples asking Him to explain a parable (Luke 8:11-15). He does, but first He tells them, “Knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that ‘they may look but not see, and hear but not understand’” (Luke 8:10).

Those disciples became the earliest bishops and missionaries, sharing their knowledge and understanding with those who did not know or understand. Then, as now, Jesus wanted us to look beyond ourselves to understand what He means when He speaks to us.

Whenever I read a passage of Scripture and think to myself, “Jesus, dude, you can’t say stuff like that,” I’m always able to find a Saint or faithful theologian who can help me understand.

In this parable, ten servants are each given one coin by their master. Some use them in trade to make more coins, earning more responsibility and their master’s praise. One servant keeps his coin hidden away, so his master relieves him of it (and-oh-by-the-way he orders the deaths of a bunch of people who didn’t want him to be their king).

If we’re talking about employment situations or potential government officials, it all sounds pretty terrible. But if we’re talking about God, and whether He has the right and authority to expect those of us to whom the gift of faith has been given to share that gift with others? Well, it might be uncomfortable, but it’s not unjust. And while we may not like to think about it, at the end of the age, we will be judged as to whether we chose to accept God as our King and serve Him in this world. Those found wanting will suffer the true death of eternal separation from God.

We are the ones who can stand between the “enemies”(Luke 19:27) of our Master and their eternal death, by taking the gift of faith that God has given to us, growing in knowledge and understanding, and sharing our faith with others. If not, we run the risk of losing it ourselves.

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