Matt 25:14-30
I love the words of todayʼs collect, and they bear repeating:
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them.... And
for me, it was rewriting the Gospel lesson in my own words in a Midrash that
allowed that prayer to be fulfilled. So let us all hear them, read, mark,
learn, and inwardly digest them as I share with you todayʼs Gospel story in my
own words.
There was a land owner with three laborers. Not accustomed to
explaining himself he was ready to leave town for parts unknown and return as
he chose. Prior to leaving he entrusted his land to his laborers and gave each
of the three a small packet of seeds.
After many harvests the land owner returned. Immediately he called
his three laborers to his side so that he could learn of their efforts. The
first laborer invited the land owner to walk with him to a south-facing
hillside. It was on this hillside that he had removed the rocks and roots from
the ground and watered the seeds lightly. He had fed the birds so that they
would not eat his seeds. And there before them was a field resplendent with
color and fragrance enough to make you dizzy with delight. He told of the many
harvests of flowers that he has had. He told of the beautiful flowers that now
filled the churches and homes of the area; and how everyone seemed to be just
that little bit happier because of the beauty that surrounds them. He also told
him of the riches he had brought in selling these flowers. The land owner said
that he was “good and trust worthy” and that “to whom much is given, much is
expected.” And then he received his rewards.
The second then asked the land owner to walk to where he could look
down upon a low lying field. There he saw an orchard in full bloom. He
explained that he had planted the seeds there and drew water from the stream,
he had been able to harvest many different fruits and sell them in the market
place. The people in the town were happy with the variety of fruit and the
sweetness that enhanced every meal. He also told him of the riches he had
brought in selling these fruits. The land owner said that he was “good and
trust worthy” and that “to whom much is given, much is expected.” And then he
received his rewards.
The third then walked over to the rocks where he had hidden his seed
packet. Removing the outer rock a pungent odor crept out from the crevice. He
then removed the seed packet from the crevice only to find a mold encased mass.
The land owner looked at him in disgust and exclaimed “Not only did you not
encourage the seeds to grow, but now they are wasted and of no value. Even if
you had only scattered the seeds on the ground then the birds would have had at
least one meal to eat.” He was sent away with the burden of the mold encased
mass now hanging from around his neck.
Receiving the seeds, or the talents of the Gospel story, was a
transformational moment for each of these three people. The first two took the
gifts that they had been given and multiplied the gifts many fold to the
benefit of others. The third did nothing. He hid his gift, only to have it
waste away. I often wonder what makes us act boldly or fail to act.
I stand before you as the third laborer, but this time the story has
a different ending. God gave me the gifts that I needed to be a priest long
ago, and I buried them. I failed to act. I did not use my gifts as God
intended. And there they sat under a rock. And here is how the story changes:
before the land owner returned I lifted the rock and uncovered the gifts and
nurtured them. And the gifts grew and are flourishing. The sweet fruits of the
harvest are plentiful and the blossoms fragrant. For me, it wasnʼt too late.
Whether they are seeds or talents, we often hear the gifts of God referred
to as time, talent or treasure. Our gifts are these things and so much more; we
have been given gifts to be cultivated and nurtured, so that we can live our
life as God intended.
We often mention nature versus nurture when we talk about how
someone develops a specific talent. But this is not about genetics or the right
school. We have been given an abundance of gifts out of Godʼs abundant love; to
whom much is given much is expected. Our gifts are to be used for Godʼs glory,
not for our own self interest. So we can fail to act, or we can act boldly.
Some cultivate their gifts immediately, some hide their talents under a rock until
it is too late, and some realize that it is not yet too late to remove the rock
and nurture the gifts that God gave us.
And here is the beauty of this Gospel, the gifts are varied. Think
about the images in my version of the story; there were many different flowers
and an orchard full of different fruits. As many flowers and fruit trees that
exist, there are that many unique gifts, and more, that we have been given.
Just last Sunday we sang about the Saints; perhaps you remember these words:
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, and one was a shepherdess
on the green One was a soldier, one was a priest, one was slain by a fierce
wild beast
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, in church, or
in trains, or in shops, or at tea. (H293)
That hymn speaks of the Saints. And each Saint has a unique story.
And each Saint has a unique set of gifts. And each Saint is like you and me.
They had a time when they failed to act, and they had a time when they acted
boldly. It was a transformational moment that got them to act boldly.
It takes a transformational moment to remove the rock. Know that,
like our gifts that are unique, so too is that moment that transforms our
lives. Think caterpillar and butterfly. The caterpillar moves along rather
slowly. The butterfly however, moves gracefully and is very colorful. For us,
this transformation is internal, we fly and we become beautiful on the inside
as we use our gifts. And if you have ever studied butterflies you know that the
transformation is not instantaneous; it takes time and effort.
Soon we will celebrate Eucharist, this is also a transformational
moment. At that time, in community and with prayer, bread and wine will become
the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is a bold statement and a
bold transformation. It is a time when you can approach the altar asking for
your gifts to be nurtured and fed. Then boldly allow the bread and the wine to
transform you.
Just as the Eucharist occurs in community and with prayer, so too
does our own transformation. Donʼt try to remove the rock by yourself. Our
community surrounds us and can support us in the discovery of our unique gifts.
Our community can help us to cultivate the seeds and nurture the growth. Our
community is there for education, prayer, fellowship, and support. It can help
us identify the transformational moments in each of our lives. By acting
boldly, we can be transformed and we can transform the lives of others.
Yesterday, the newly consecrated 9th bishop of the Diocese of
Washington, Bishop Mariann Budde called for us to act boldly, she called us all
to action with these words:
“Go forth and be all that God has created you to be!”
Henry P. McQueen
Saint Patrickʼs Washington DC
Year A, Proper 28
13 November, 2011
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