St. John’s Lutheran Church, Toluca, IL – 25th Sunday after Pentecost
Amos 5:18-24; Psalm; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13
Matthew 25:14-30
[Jesus said to the disciples:] 14“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ”
NRSV
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The Joy of Our Master
Grace to you, beloved of God, and Peace from Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This past Friday morning, my friend Dave and I were doing some food prep for the soup supper when I got worried. I have actually been worried about David since last year. Even before the cleanup began Saturday Morning, he told me he was sore and could barely walk. Being the head chef of all those roasters of soup will do that to you. On the day of serving the soup, the work begins around 7 am for him and the sous chefs, Chuck and Donny, and goes for more than 12 hours until we stop serving and wrap it up. This year has not been as anxious as last year. There was a little more help, I believe. Plus, last year, we figured out on the fly how to restart this legendary tradition on a smaller scale. So, this time, there was a better sense of what to do. Even some improvements were made.
Ministry takes a toll. There is always that uncertainty lingering. Will people come? Is everybody aware of what they need to do? Will it be worth the time invested? Will the fundraiser make enough money? Will people like the soup? So, early this past Friday morning, I noticed that the joy I saw on David’s face sometimes this past week was fading. He was developing the other face, the dreadful, most common one. The working-together-for-Jesus-is-getting-tough face. It is by no means particular to him. We all put that face on eventually. You do. I am sure I do, too. So, I sensed it was time to have the talk every child of God should have about being a disciple.
I said brother, work for Jesus Christ is 95% anxiety, worry, angst, disagreement, miscommunication, frustration, disappointment, fear, you name it, and 5% joy. This was my conclusion, after some twenty years of ministry, being that a lay person in a lively congregation, a seminarian, or an ordained minister. There is often way more than one can control. Most people don’t accept the invitation. The laborers are few. All this is biblical.
They are such a part of the challenges that God’s people had to overcome since they were first freed by God that it is said that if Moses had put things to a vote, the people would have chosen to return to slavery in Egypt. Moses himself hesitated at the burning bush. I am not fit for this. Send someone else. Believe me, I have been there.
So I told Dave, Dave, very early after I started serving at church, I began telling myself that if I was not part of the solution, I was part of the problem. I tried over the years to become less frustrated and focused on doing what I could do when I felt God was asking. Didn’t matter if it was one of many or one of few.
I must confess that I failed more than I succeeded in avoiding personal frustration. Therefore, I don’t blame all the laborers who dug a hole in the ground to safeguard the small fortune that one talent represented. It is just that too many things that can go wrong. I can see how he thought the risk of a loss wasn’t worth the hassle it would come. Better safe than sorry, right? Except he would be sorry anyway because he missed the 5% of bliss.
See, the lord of the parable has enough power and authority to reap even what he did not sow. That is true. And we confess every Sunday that he is coming again to judge the living and the dead. Be he is also slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and it is his good pleasure to give us all the treasures of his Kingdom and share his joy with us. The five 5% of bliss, the glimpses of the celestial celebration, are more than worthy.
This past week is probably the busiest and most anxious here at St. John’s, with the Soup Supper Fundraiser and Operation Christmas Child happening simultaneously. Therefore, these tiny moments of bliss were more noticeable to me than usual.
For instance, I saw the joy of our master in Karen’s determination to carry on the packing of the shoeboxes without the company of her logistic coordinator.
I experienced a moment of bliss when Tammy and Willy came from two towns over on a chilly night to help load the shoe boxes in the trailer at the parking lot, even if it cost me a bump on my forehead.
I heard of the joy of our master when jokes were being cracked during the vegetable prep for the soup.
I had moments of bliss when Gene showed up with his bad knee to help check the wiring for the roasters and when Adalyn did not hesitate to help me arrange the boxes at the altar and move enthusiastically to sweep the floor in the fellowship hall.
I heard about the joy of our master when our children worked together so other children from far away could have a glimpse of the Kingdom.
I shared in the joy of our Lord when four guys from different places and upbringings shared a half-sausage pepperoni pizza from the Supreme House of Cheese before the next round of cooking.
I saw the joy of our Lord when Anna’s friend Lilly accompanied her and together they served. I saw the smile on the face of our master when Ava, after helping with the cleanup, wanted to make sure she knew how to tighten her belt around the robe before serving as acolyte today.
I had a moment of bliss when Joann and I worked seamlessly at the cashier table while discussing curing meats for the holidays and how to light up the cross and the evergreens outside the church for Advent. Or when Paula anticipated my inability to prepare anything for the cleanup and brought some Casey’s breakfast pizza with her.
I had a glimpse of the Kingdom when Ruth realized how much was done between these two Sundays and when Chris made sure she came to get her soup, even if Phyllis could enter soon into the eternal joy of her master.
I am sure our Lord will share in the joy of over 650 Christmas smiles worldwide and in the 200 hundred-plus servings of soup that will help send our children to camp next year so they can have their moments of bliss.
I know I didn’t mention everyone and every moment. I am sure you all had your own. Plus, I try to stay under 15 minutes. However, I share in the joy of our master for your effort to find time to work together for him. Your heard it before; building up the church of living stones often takes boldness and courage. It also takes a village. And the village was ready to meet their Lord. How many priceless moments may have been multiplied here this past week? There is no gnashing of teeth here today, only tears of joy. Well done, good and faithful disciples. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Bridging Faith 