Proper 28 November 15, 2020
Judges 4:1-7, Matthew 25:14-30 Sermon by Rev. B. Hartsough
Today we heard another parable. The parable of the talents is the last parable in Matthew. It gives us insight and instruction on how to live. Last week’s parable of the bridesmaids and this week’s parable of the talents are Jesus’s last parables in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus’s earthly life is coming to its end. Jesus wants to be sure his disciples know how to live in the in-between time. The time between Jesus’s ascension from earth and his return to earth. His return is referred to as the Eschaton.
Last week we learned that we are responsible for maintaining our own spiritual health. Maintaining our own spiritual health keeps us prepared to see God’s kingdom breaking into the world. It also enables us to help usher in that kingdom.
Today we have three slaves, a master, and three very large sums of money. “Talents” were equal to about 15 years of wages. So, one talent for today’s average worker would be equal to about $600,000. We are talking about a lot of money. The master gave each slave talents to manage according to their ability. The master goes away and lets each slave manage the talents given to them. Two of the slaves invest the money and make more money. One of the slaves feared losing the money so he hid it. It sounds reasonable right? No one loses the money. No one does anything illegal. Then comes the surprise in the parable. The slave that turns out to be careful is the one who is chastised. At first glance, the parable does not make sense.
It seems like the master is too harsh on the slave who hid the talents. Think about it. The master is upset because the slave protected his talents. If we look at this parable as a business venture, then the slave who hid the money was unsuccessful. Business investors do not just protect money, they take risks to make more money. They step out in courage to double and triple money. If they just protected money, they would go out of business. Business investors carefully weigh the risks. Today’s parable is about weighing the risks and stepping out in courage. If we view this parable from Jesus’s perspective, we can understand it. The talents are the gospel- spreading the story of Jesus and living it out. Helping others to know God through Jesus and being courageous and taking risks.
Being courageous with faith is what the judges in the Hebrew scripture had to do. Today we heard the beginning of the story of Deborah. She is one of the few female leaders mentioned in the Bible. She was a judge for Israel. Judges were leaders in Israel. They served between the time of Moses and Joshua and the time of the kings beginning with King Saul. They had civil duties and led Israel in battle against other nations. Their role was to be servants of God and to interpret God’s will for the people. They had to take risks.
The slave who hid the money let fear rule him. He chose fear not courage. His lack of action caused him to die to his self and not to be fully human. We must remember that in the Gospel of Matthew this parable was told by Jesus to his disciples days before his crucifixion. Jesus is about to culminate his earthly ministry. Jesus being fully human had all of our emotions including fear. Jesus gave his heart away. He risked all to the point of death.
Jesus is reiterating that we must choose how to spend our time here on earth. We must discern and weigh the risks of our choices. The greatest risk is not to risk, not to be fully human. Jesus calls us to live our lives fully. We have the freedom to choose to take the initiative. What we do shapes our world.
Being a disciple of Jesus comes with responsibilities. We have beliefs. We are given the story of Jesus. We need to be careful that our religion, our life of faith does not become too comfortable-too safe. A life of faith, a church, a religion that is alive is risky. It includes daily decisions to be courageous.
I started watching Young Sheldon on television. Last week Sheldon and his twin sister are graduating. Sheldon is lying in bed. He cannot sleep. His sister asks him what is wrong. He says to her, “I am afraid to go to college. I don’t want things to change.” His sister says, “I understand. I feel the same way.” Sheldon asks her, “What do you do?” his sister says, “You are afraid, and you do it anyway.” That is what we do when we step out in courage. If we know it is the right thing to do, we take risks and we do it.
In a non-pandemic year, I would talk about stepping out with courage and faith to participate in ventures that are risky and would grow your faith. Ventures like ministering to those who are different and risking a change of worldview as we open our minds to new points of view.
This year, as a church, we stepped out in courage as we risked being church in new ways in the midst of this pandemic. Covid19 forced us to take spiritual risks. I am not talking about going into a crowd or not wearing a mask. Please wear a mask. Social distance. Stay away from crowds. Be safe.
Taking risks for us right now looks different. I am talking about being willing to step out of our comfort zones. To risk being church in new ways. To risk calling a new priest who keeps saying, “They didn’t teach me this in seminary.” Our risks right now feel more like being safe. We risk ourselves as we make unpopular decisions that may be criticized. Decisions to be safe that may mean we do not see family and loved ones in person. Decisions that include new ways to have the holidays without spreading covid19. We are fully human as we feel the loss of family gatherings and parties.
We grieve what we have missed, and we have hope. Jesus felt all of this. In his humanity he gave us the example. Even if you are afraid, walk out in faith. Invest in risky ventures. It will transform you and you will share in the joy of your master.