Proper 28 A

Nov. 16, 2008
The Rev. Susan J. Latimer

The Parable of the Talents makes an interesting juxtaposition with our Annual Meeting at St. John’s. Depending upon whose side you are on – depending upon who you identify with in the parable – it can be either a deeply satisfying or a deeply disturbing tale.

The owner of the property entrusts his property to three slaves, “according to their ability”. So, the most capable, the most faithful, if you will, receives 5 shares. The next, 3, and the last, 1. The first two step out in faith, take a large risk, and are successful in their endeavors. The last one lacks something – faith, courage, - whatever it is, he decides to simply hide the money, bury his head in the sand, so to speak. When the owner returns, the two who risked receive praise and are given more responsibility. However, the poor last slave, the one who received only 1 share, comes forward and gives his excuse.

It is this excuse – the slave’s idea of who the owner really is and how the owner really operates, that is at the crux of the parable. This slave is convinced that the Master is a harsh, demanding boss, someone who is impossible to please. And so he doesn’t even really try.

What is your image of God? Do you see God as a benevolent, gracious Master? Do you think God is by your side, cheering you on, encouraging you in hard times, challenging you to be your best? Or do you think that God is a harsh taskmaster who is impossible to please?

“For 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.”

It doesn’t seem fair, does it? What in heavens does this mean?

This parable is one of the parables that Jesus uses to describe the kingdom of God. As in any parable, there are multiple meanings, and multiple interpretations. Parable are meant to challenge us, to make us think, to stop us in our tracks from time to time and really look at what God is trying to teach us.

I believe that this parable is all about faith and risk. And here is where it fits so well with our Annual Meeting and taking stock of ourselves while looking to the future. We at St. John’s have been given many, many gifts. This parish has a history of taking risks and stepping out in faith– opening up the doors for Manna Meal in the 70’s, making a statement early on about the importance of the inclusion of all people, being a safe place for our LGBT brothers and sisters.

After just 3 ½ months with you, what impresses me the most about this parish is your desire to continue to grow and change, to the glory of God. St. John’s has a rich legacy of outreach to the city and the world, and you still want to do more. This is certainly one of the most diverse and inclusive parishes in all three of the Diocese in which I have served: Atlanta, Maine, and West Virginia – and you want to be more diverse and more inclusive. The community here is strong, a tapestry of many colors, and you want to become stronger. I heard from many folks in the past 3 ½ months as we sat around tables and broke bread together, that it is important for all of you to know each other better. I heard this over and over from people who have been here for 40 or 50 years, as well as from our newer members.

Our faith calls us to continue to risk.

What are the risks that God is inviting us to take, today?

In this uncertain economic climate, certainly one risk is for us to boldly go forward with our mission, in faith that the saints of John will not hide their talents in the ground, but will come forward, give freely, and live out of a spirit of abundance. Mission requires money, and this year is no different than any other. In fact, our continuing mission to the community will require a capital funds drive to support needed improvements in our sewer system so that Manna Meal can continue serving up to 400 people each day. We also need to attend to some long-delayed maintenance of our beautiful and historic buildings.

Another risk we must take is to live more fully into our mission statement:

We reach out to the world in Christ’s name in the hope that all people might find a home in God’s healing love.

Implicit in this statement is attention both to the community of faith within these walls, and the community outside of these walls. We need to attend to strengthening the Body of Christ, this community, AND we need to continue to reach out from that strength to the community around us. We need to complete our staff with the hiring of an Associate Rector who will focus on Christian Formation and Pastoral Care.

We are well on our way to be the place that God intends for us to be – a place where all are truly welcomed, a safe space where dialogue can take place and we can speak our truth to one another in love. As wonderful as this parish is, we are not perfect. We are still human, and we all come with our own brokenness, our own wounds.

I am reminded of Robin William’s Top 10 Reasons to be an Episcopalian, which I had hanging on my office door in Maine, but have not yet unearthed from my many office boxes. Here are the ones I can remember:

No snake-handling

The year is color-coded

All of the pageantry, none of the guilt

Male and female God created them – male and female we ordain them

You can believe in Dinosaurs

And finally,

No matter what you believe, there is at least one Episcopalian who will agree with you.

We are a diverse congregation! We will never all agree about many things. Sometimes the expression of this diversity within the community causes pain and hurt, as the truth of long-held prejudices, or deeply held conflicting opinions comes to light. All of us – every single one of us, has some kind of prejudice. We all have our own “filters” – all of us put people into boxes, all of us label people, often without thinking. Liberal and conservative. Rural folk and City folk. Female and Male. LBGT or Straight. Families with children and those without. People of color and Caucasian people.

We need to risk the very difficult work of strengthening our diversity while strengthening the fabric of our community. We need to practice listening to people with very different ideas from ours. We need to practice the art of forgiveness with one another when we are wounded, and ask forgiveness when we are the ones who wound, even when it is unintentional. In our confession, we speak of “sins known and unknown, things done and left undone”.

“For 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.”

This is all about Faith and Risk.

Congregations who act out of fear, as the last slave did, will continue to wither on the vine. Congregations who hold on to their gifts out of fear of losing them, will have lost them in the process.

Faith does not grow when we grasp it tightly and hide it away in fear.

Faith grows as we move forward, take risks, and trust in the deep, abiding love of God.

I am deeply honored to be in this place with you as your Rector.

May God give us the courage and strength to step out in Faith and Risk what must be risked, so that we may more fully live into God’s dream for St. John’s and all the Saints of John.

Amen.