The parable of Jesus that Luke shares with us today does not rate highly in the polls. If, indeed, we did a survey among Christians with regard to parables, not only favorite ones, but parables in general, it is likely that this story would be missing from the list entirely. With slight variations, it appears in Matthew and in Luke, in Matthew as the Parable of the Talents and in Luke as the Parable of the Pounds, but while each writer has his own unique elaborations, in substance both of them are writing the same story.

But this one does not occupy a cherished place within the hearts of most of us as other parables of Jesus do. This one can’t be sentimentalized as we have often sentimentalized the favorite and familiar. This one can’t be sweetened with a little sugar from the bowl of pop…