Lectionary readings:
Judges 4:1-7 Psalm 123 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Matthew 25:14-30
Collect
Your glory, O God,
fills heaven and earth
and all creation resounds with your praise.
As we rejoice in your presence,
may we know your power to save
and praise you for your faithfulness,
now and forever; through Christ our Lord. Amen
The news this week seems to have all been of Biden and Brexit, and of virus and vaccine, over-shadowing some of the more poignant stories from around the world. These included recent attacks in France, fears of civil war in Ethiopia with fighting in Tigray, migrants fleeing to the Canary Islands in small boats. Stories which speak of fear, loss of life, and the fragility of the world in which we live. But then, no doubt some will look at the scripture readings and deduce that the day of the Lord is surely coming.
In fairness, the Parable of the Talents in Matthew’s gospel is about end times, but it might be helpful just to set this one in context. The tale of the talents sits third among four stories about the return of the master (king or bridegroom): The Faithful Servant (24:45-51); The Ten Bridesmaids (25:1-13); The Talents (25:14-30); The Coming of the Son of Man (25:31-46).
Except the theme for all these parables is really set in Matthew 24:36-41, where Christians are encouraged to be ready. And I don’t mean being super-efficient having sent all the cards, wrapped the presents, and ordered the Christmas food before Advent. This is more about spending time in reflection, thinking about what Christian-lifestyles should be like if we were to live as though Christ’s return may be imminent, and we were called to give account. I suspect that such thoughts are usually far distant for many of us, having been crowded out from our thinking by the more prosaic matters that fill into an average day. For the most-part, this parable has been used in sermons to think about the use of time, talents and treasure, and that makes it hard to strip away centuries of stewardship-veneer.
For it is as if a man, going on a journey,
summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; (25:14)
So maybe it is time to re-imaging this parable – with the help of another text. The starting point of this story, is the willingness of the wealthy land-owner, who entrusts goods and belongings, power and wealth, freedom and responsibility to others. Now, what might this story look like, if placed alongside the gift of creation, where God generously leaves a beautiful world in trust to humanity? God puts human beings in charge an amazing piece of property, crammed with riches undreamed of, and asks them simply to take charge and run the enterprise to produce a good return by tilling it and keeping it (Genesis 2:15). A simple enough task you may suppose, but the other piece of important news this week was about the delayed United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) that should have taken place from 01-12 November. And it is becoming increasingly apparent that we have but a little time to prevent major catastrophe (more of this in just a moment).
In the Parable of the Talents, two of the employees invest their master’s property and double it; while the third buries it. The first two are praised and rewarded – it looks like they become board members. The third hid the money out of fear. Well at least he has the original investment to hand back, even though he neglects the master’s graciously given opportunity. There is no praise and no reward. for this employee; just the wonderfully descriptive ‘place of outer darkness and weeping and gnashing of teeth’. This person has lost everything, because there was nonsense of joyous commitment to the task given to him.
But what if this parable had included a servant who neither invested nor hid what had been entrusted to them, but instead squandered it, and somehow got hold of other resources from those stewarding on the owner’s behalf and squandered them too?
We may pat ourselves on the backs for generous giving to good causes, for preaching the gospel, for working with down-and outs (the list is endless) but when it comes to our investment in, and care of planet earth, we have proved ourselves woefully inadequate. What might be the final outcome, in such a scenario? Environmental destruction, loss of species, inability to feed ourselves, worldwide migration …. that sounds just like a place of darkness and of weeping.
The Prince of Wales has long campaigned for a change of attitude to climate change, but expressed it strongly earlier this year, when he said that it will ‘dwarf’ the impact of coronavirus:
“Without swift and immediate action, at an unprecedented pace and scale, we will miss the window of opportunity to ‘reset’ for… a more sustainable and inclusive future.”
“[The environmental] crisis has been with us for far too many years – decried, denigrated and denied,”
“It is now rapidly becoming a comprehensive catastrophe that will dwarf the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.”
HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales [21.09.20] https://youtu.be/n4aQkyJrlWs
An ancient prophet once wrote this words:
4 The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers; the heavens languish together with the earth. 5 The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth dwindled, and few people are left. Isaiah 24:4-6 NRSV
Written for a very different time and generation, the book of Isaiah, seems strangely relevant today. Human beings as a species, have broken the everlasting covenant, have not invested wisely, and the whole creation is suffering.
As we approach Advent, making our preparations for Christmas, we know that this year will be a Christmas like no other. And maybe that will give more time and space to think about how we can work towards greater sustainability, rather than being seduced by the annual consumer-fest.
From last year:
Dorian hits the Bahamas
What if the harvest doesn’t come; do we not deserve God’s deliverance? What if the sea more than encroaches our land, and winds are not hushed at God’s almighty command? And we, in our homeless state flee to neighbours less happy to greet us? What if our grain is not watered, but washed away by some flood, and showers intended to caress the gentle earth came like some apocalyptic nightmare? How will our children have the freedom to flourish and dance and sing? Our pasture desolate, our hills demolished, valleys submerged in some aquatic wasteland; how then can we sing the Lord’s song in this strange and foreign land? When, O Lord, will we encounter abundance and join creation’s anthem? © Rose Westwood 12.09.19
Some Prayers
Confession
Let us confess our forgetfulness of the needs of the poor, and repent of the ways in which we waste the resources of the world. We confess our sin, and the sins of our society, in the misuse of God’s creation. God our Father, we are sorry for the times when we have used your gifts carelessly, and acted ungratefully. Hear our prayer, and in your mercy: forgive us and help us. We enjoy the fruits of the harvest, but sometimes forget that you have given them to us. Father, in your mercy: forgive us and help us. We belong to a people who are full and satisfied, but ignore the cry of the hungry. Father, in your mercy: forgive us and help us. We are thoughtless, and do not care enough for the world you have made. Father, in your mercy: forgive us and help us. We store up goods for ourselves alone, as if there were no God and no heaven. Father, in your mercy: forgive us and help us.
Creator God,
in the beginning your word subdued the chaos
and in the fullness of time you sent Jesus, your Son,
to rebuke the forces of evil and to make all things new.
By that same power transform our fear into faith
that we may have the courage
to follow in the way of your kingdom;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Worship at home 