The Parable of the Talents

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 25:14-30.

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. Immediatelythe 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 two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two 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 ten.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.'”

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When you think about it, the master of the household made a gamble when he left his possessions to his servants. When many of us think that the Gospel is all about the talents, I see it as about a Master who put faith in his servants. What the servants did to the talents is but a reflection of how much value they placed on the faith that the Master showed them.

It would be easy to focus too much on our ability to increase investments and value. Afterall we are gifted creatures who gifted with creativity and imagination can turn into reality dreams and visions of the future. Along with it also is the opposite fear and insecurity that paralizes our spiritual and creative faculties. But God is not a businessman nor are we created to be investment firms.

God had often compared Himself as a Shelpherd or a Gardener. Of all the analogies to human work he chose that which represents most his nature - nurturing love. I believe this framework of love allows him to put faith in each of us knowing too well human frailty. So he lavishly grants his blessings and gifts to his sons and daughters, giving them the talents to develop, the time to grow, and the environment needed for them to bear fruit. 

I now believe the talents would not stand by themselves without the wager of faith that God has placed in man.

It is right then that man should respond in faith. Or better to bear fruit in faith after faith has been planted in him. A Faith that believes in a God who created us good and deserving to be loved. A Faith that values giftedness and personhood. A Faith that allows and invites others to bear fruit together. For the Lord has planted a vineyard and not just one plant, he pastures a flock and not just one sheep.

In the parable of talents, I see a Gardener and a Shepherd who makes a gamble in his servants. He leaves all that he has to them. Will they respond in faith?

Where it all began

I was talking to Ate Mindex in the CLAY Office last week during my short stint in Cebu. Our chat brought to topic the history of Cebu which for a long time had perplexed me. The History that was taught me in elementary studies touched little on the topic. However, I feel that there is more to the story of the place where I grew up than what I know now.

This is always the question of history and its importance. History is tied to culture and both are essential to a people. If Cebuanos were to remain ignorant of their rich history, even pre-dating Spanish colonization, then we would never fully understand ourselves as a people much less set a path for the future.

One of the questions that intrigue me is the place of Pasil and of San Nicolas in history. Was it really probable that Magellan landed in the shores of Suba and San Nicolas? Was the kingdom of Raja Humabon established in the area of San Nicolas? And much more importantly, did the first Filipino baptized Christians live there?

In the dawn of 500 years of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines, I find these questions become more important. An air of ignorance and lack of interest in our history as a people looms over the celebration. How can we ever claim to be "us" when we never fully understood who we "were"? The dilapidated and disharmonious sight of the area reflect this reality. As the celebration breaks the dawn, our people remain sleepy and stagnant to this glorious arrival of Christ in Cebu's shores.

I believe that we need to address the following points:

1. Educate and enlighten our people to our rich history. There are already good online sources for reading: Pigafetta's account of Magellan's last days in Cebu and with it the description of the early Cebuanos; an interesting article on the Kingdom of Sugbu or the Rajanate of Cebu; or Eskrima's quest to understand its history.
2. Incite people to take interest in Cebuano, Philippine, and Christian history. Get to know the etymology of the name of your hometown. Read and share folklore.
3. Reflect and discern on the identity and future of our people. What is our identity as Cebuanos, as Filipinos in this globalized world? How do we proceed from here in which we embrace progress but at the same time preserve our traditions, values, and culture?
4. Push our leaders, both government and Church, to prepare for the 500 years celebration. Will we let this chance to celebrate a historical landmark slip through our hands when it is in our very lifetime?

Is this really the face of our identity, the haunting of our past, and the vision of our future?