A man had three sons who went out into the wide world to see their fortune. Everyone thought the first two sons were smart and would be successful, but the last son was an oaf, and everyone knew he would return an utter failure . . . .

We know where this is going.

But Jesus undermines our expectations. A man gave talents to three servants, and went off on a journey. The first two doubled their wealth, while the last buried his talent. The master commended and rewarded the first two, but sent the third into outer darkness, to a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. We feel the failure of the third servant more pointedly because of the biblical, and cultural, expectation that the second son will surpass the first, the latter days will be better than the former.

Sometimes, the last really is last.