LENT 2016 – GOING TO JERUSALEM

Tuesday, March 8

The Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25: 14 - 30

            It sounds like an episode of Dragon’s Den. Which entrepreneur is going to come up with the best idea to make more money? I have read about churches whose parishioners, based on this parable, were each given $100 out of the church funds and told to come back in a few weeks and donate back any proceeds over and above the original hundred bucks. Some bought baking goods and then sold the cookies or pies. Some used the money to advertise a garage sale. Others used the money to hold a church supper. And so on.

As far as I know no one ever used the $100 to buy a hundred dollars’ worth of lottery tickets. Wouldn’t that create an interesting if awkward, ethical dilemma if one won the big jackpot? Do you give all the millions to the church or just a tenth and keep the rest for yourself? (And then perhaps we are reading Acts 5: 1-11!)  Please feel free to discuss.

Mind you, this parable is not really about fundraising, per se. Nor is it necessarily about compelling you to use your particular gifts and talents in the life of the church.

Ever since the beginning of chapter 24 Jesus has spent considerable teaching on the work of discipleship while we wait for God’s Kingdom to unfold. In other words, this is a parable which picks up the themes of responsibility and accountability.

We don’t get to sit on our backsides and let Jesus alone do all the heavy lifting. There are no “pew potatoes” when Jesus is arriving in the vicinity. Watching an evangelist on TV on Sunday morning is not the same as being involved in Jesus’ Mission. Writing an occasional cheque, useful as that may be, is not the same as getting your hands dirty.

            Bishop William Willimon tells the story of the man who was washing dishes in the church kitchen after the weekly breakfast for the poor and homeless held at the church. Willimon congratulated the man for his faithful service, commenting that the man must get a lot of joy and satisfaction out of doing this menial task. The man replied that actually he didn’t get any pleasure out of the experience at all. “These people scare me; have you seen some of them. They’re crazy….” Willimon asked the man why he did it then. The man replied, “Because Jesus expects me to.”

            “His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'” (25:21 The Message).

            Patience, endurance, perseverance, readiness, preparation, obedience, good works – these seem to be the kind of qualities and habits that fit in well with God’s Plans. Passivity, fear, excuses, alibis, idleness, reluctance, avoidance do not fit in. This provides each of us with some very interesting choices that we must make in light of the Master’s need of us.

            Do you need a shovel or a basket?