Proper 28 2014
Our Gospel reading today is a
pretty standard issue reading for stewardship season. It talks about money,
investing, slaves and being cast into the outer darkness—everything anyone
could want in a stewardship sermon, I’m sure… Certainly threats of being ‘cast
out’ are great to secure the “fire insurance” pledges.
But for me, and perhaps most of
rational Christendom—I’m a little concerned about the parable in this regard.
So rather than using it to leverage financial contributions to the Church; I
think we might be better served if we try to work through some of it. If
nothing else, we might try to have some idea of how any of this has anything to
do with us…
Well, in context of the Gospel of
Matthew, Jesus has obviously been talking a lot about the final judgment that’s
to come. And so, he’s been telling a number of parables about being prepared,
having proper priorities—all of that. Of course, we should also keep in mind
that the Gospel of Matthew was written to reflect a Jewish perspective—so,
that’s even why some of what Jesus is saying sounds a lot like Old Testament
prophets. And in preparation for Advent, all of our lessons today feel a little
judgmental—because, well, they are…
See, this is the other context in
which we need to read the Gospel lesson—in the context of the other two
readings from Scripture. In the letter to the Thessalonians, Paul is warning
the Early believers to be prepared—be ready at all times for the return of
Christ. His point was that when we become too comfortable, we become complacent.
And this can lead to all sorts of concessions and compromises…
The reading from the prophet Zephaniah, then,
warns against the same thing—this idea that bad things happen when we’re too
comfortable or complacent.
Anyway, by the time we get to Jesus’
parable, we already have this sense that as things in the world get worse and
less hospitable; it will be more difficult to discern the right ways and best
actions for our lives. In the case of this particular parable; we’re to
understand that in a world where bridesmaids are being locked out of wedding
parties because they didn’t have enough oil for their lamps—this is also a
world where people will be too nervous to invest what is given to them.
Now, just to be clear, the amount
of money that each of these slaves is given is quite a lot. As I’ve said
before, Jesus is really pushing the bounds of reality with these parables. All
the same, he’s also trying to really express the absurdity of not being
prepared, and squandering what we’ve been given.
Well, we know how things shake out
in this parable. The master has given the slaves each a certain amount of
money, leaves, and comes back. When he returns, he asks for an accounting of
the money he had entrusted. Two of the slaves, as we know, invested the talents
given them—while the third had buried what he was given, and is subsequently
punished.
As a side note, I’m not sure if
things might have gone better if this guy had just shut up and let his master
be angry with him…I don’t know. But if failing to invest the talent was enough
to make the master angry, probably pointing out that the master isn’t a very
nice guy, or a very honest businessman is probably not a wise choice in the way
of an excuse, either…
Whatever the case, the point is clearly
made—we ought to be good stewards of what we’re given. On the other hand, a
less clearly made point is that there is disparity in the world. It’s not fair,
but it will only become more so… I think I prefer the first lesson.
However, in consideration of the
lesson about things being unfair—Jesus isn’t condoning this, so much as
pointing out that in the End Times (a period of time which has been going since
Jesus ascended, by the way) it will simply be expected behavior to take from
those who have nothing, and to give more to those who already have an
abundance… But, once again, Jesus is being absurd. Besides, we don’t live in a
world anything like that.
Then again, if we did live in a
world that behaved that way, I suppose it would be important for the people of
God to do things differently—and do them without becoming complacent, besides.
Not only should we be concerned with doing justly, loving mercy and walking
humbly before our God… Not only are we to be shaped by the precepts of loving
God and our neighbors as ourselves…But, we’re to be conformed by love—after
all, God is Love, and we should therefore be concerned with the things that God
is concerned with…
If we have any questions about what
things God is concerned with, we need only apply all of those things I’ve
listed already.
And if we still aren’t too sure, we can read
throughout Scripture to find that God is concerned with the poor, the
oppressed, the widow, the orphan, the foreigner…the sick, the imprisoned…you,
me, and everyone else besides.
So, when we consider this parable,
and sharing—or better still, investing what we are given; I think we need to
begin by recognizing that, like the slaves in the parable, we’re given abundant
and generous gifts. Whether it’s the ability to have friendly conversation and
make people feel welcome, or the ability to form and run a committee—whatever
the case, the things we have to offer may not seem like a big deal in
ourselves—but to someone they reach out to, or welcome in; our gifts can be
life changing… But we don’t know until we’ve stepped out, and tried to use
them.
Okay, so, I already told you that
this Gospel reading is a stock reading for stewardship campaigns. And while I
think it’s a terrible choice, I still have a pitch—and here it is: Our
stewardship appeal letters went out pretty recently. Enclosed with the letter
was a short questionnaire that asked things like “what do you think the Church
and St. John’s ought to be doing or about.” It also asked what you would be
willing to do to help make that vision a reality.
As we look to the pledge
ingathering on November 23rd, along with what you’ll hope to be able
to contribute financially to the life of St. John’s; I also hope you’ll
fill-out the questionnaire. Then, in early December; we’ll invite everyone to a
parish retreat where we’ll begin to discuss these questionnaires, and begin to
strategize how to live more fully into the ministry and mission that God is
calling us to…
Now, because I’m Episcopalian, I
can’t threaten everyone with being “cast out into the outer darkness where
there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” if you don’t fill out the
questionnaire. I can’t even threaten you with ex-communication… But what I will
say is that if we don’t start to try to engage these questions and find a way
for all of us to take part in the greater ministry of St. John’s, I think we
deny the wider Church the opportunity to have a fuller, more complete witness
to the Gospel of Jesus Christ—simply because each of us is not doing what might
come very simply to us. And while it’s not “being cast into the outer darkness
where there will be”…et cetera, et cetera…it is, at least a little unfair.
Because we are, all of us, incredibly gifted people in different ways—and we’ve
all equally been called to this church for a reason… So, the question left to
us is: “how can we wisely invest that reason?”
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