Welcome to the 25th Sunday after Pentecost. In our Gospel this week, Jesus tells a parable about a master who entrusts his servants with talents before going away. Two of the servants double what they’ve been given, while one buries his talent in the ground. The usual interpretation is that God expects us to work harder, be more productive, and make better use of our gifts. Miss the mark and you risk ending up in the outer darkness.

But this parable isn’t really about productivity. After all, Jesus tells this story during his final teaching before his arrest and crucifixion. He is preparing his disciples for life in the confusing time between his departure and return. The question is not, “How can we avoid failure?” but instead, “How will we learn to live in his absence?”…