Like last week’s lectionary gospel passage, the parable of the talents seems to go against the grain of Jesus’ typical message of sharing with one’s neighbors. Instead we are presented with a case study in model capitalism, in which a boss rewards his employees for producing a healthy ROI (return on investment). But in this installment of The Immediate Word, team member Dean Feldmeyer suggests that parable really offers a message about the importance of overcoming our fear and taking risks in our lives.