the 24th sunday after pentecost
the PRAYER …
Righteous God, our merciful master, you own the earth and all its peoples, and you give us all that we have. Inspire us to serve you with justice and wisdom, and prepare us for the joy of the day of your coming, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
the READING …
[Jesus said to the disciples:] “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them ….”
the DEVOTION …
Someday, I’d love to sit down with Matthew and have a nice, long talk! This past year, as we’ve been reading through his gospel, there were times I appreciated what he wrote. Times when I saw where he was coming from. Understood where he was going. But then, I have to admit, there’ve been other times – times like this week – when I, just, didn’t get it!
Outer darkness! Weeping! Gnashing of teeth! I don’t know how many times Matthew uses those words. As threat! As ultimatum! Last week, it was bridesmaids. Next week’ll be sheep and goats. This week, it’s talents. Or rather, it’s slaves to whom talents were given. And, we can tap dance our way through the words, all we want. Doing our best, trying our hardest, to justify their place in the book. But in the end, truth is, none of it’s gospel. None of it’s good news. It’s reward-and-punishment, pure and simple. An exercise in “settling accounts!” No grace. No mercy. And not one word about saving or redeeming.
Most Sunday mornings, our worship begins with a proclamation of forgiveness: “In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake, God forgives ….” God forgives us! All of us! The foolish! The goats! Even the worthless! Maybe, especially, the worthless! And that … THAT is, “The gospel of the Lord!”