'Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 'Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 'But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.'
Peter said, 'Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?' And the Lord said, 'Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says to himself, "My master is delayed in coming," and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. But the one whodid not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.
This here is one of those heavy duty Gospels. It contains a lot of thoughts about the reign of God at the end of time. As the Church year begins to close in preparation for a new year on November 28th, so the readings in both the Daily Office and the Eucharist talk more and more about the end of the age. These Gospels are often misused to scare people into Biblical literalism. The Book of Revelation which is not a blue print for the future, becomes a Weapon of Mass Destruction.
This Gospel challenges us to be about the work of the Gospel. Which means calling people to repentance. Changing hearts and minds to think more like that of Jesus Christ "who though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death--even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2: 6-11).
What we see many Christianists and arch-conservative Catholics doing is rather than try to be more like Jesus who served all people, we see leaders of the Church trying to be more like God. Not just being like God, but give people a vision of God that is not anything like who God was in Christ. God's perfect revelation in Jesus Christ was one who encouraged his followers to be about the work of spreading the reign of God on earth, rather than destroying people's faith in God through movements like the Tea Party. Movements that endorse the idea of leaving a noose near the door of Equality California. Or Southern Baptists, Roman Catholics, the Orthodox Church in America, The Presbyterian Church in America, and the Rabbinical Alliance of America sending a statement to President Barack Obama that if they repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell "could force their chaplains to choose between serving God or serving the military." And then there is our own Archbishop of Canterbury trying to push the Anglican Covenant which is designed to introduce the idea of punishing provinces of the Anglican Communion who do not agree or operate according to the wishes of others. Rather than looking for ways to push people out of the Church we ought to be looking at every way in which we can really promote the Gospel and invite people to believe in God and find peace within the loving mercy of Jesus.
When Jesus tells his followers to be about the business of working, he doesn't mean chasing out the very people who need God the most. Jesus is telling us to be about the work of God's mercy and inclusive love. We have been entrusted with the good news of God's unconditional love, so as to encourage others to follow Jesus Christ so that God's salvation can be shared with those who are lost, marginalized, stereotyped and separated. When we use the Gospel to further marginalize, stereotype, and divide we are promoting a different Gospel than the one Jesus Christ told us to live. Jesus Christ warned those who sat on their rules too much and thought they were holy just because they could recite the laws and prayers. Jesus' stern warnings to be found working extends to those of us who love our Liturgical worship all too much, but fail to understand that we have a sense of mission by which we are to share the Gospel with others through our living more than preaching. When the Church tries to suggest that the Gospel is for everyone except lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people unless they change who they are, they are turning the Gospel of salvation into a message of destruction and torture. A careful look at this Gospel reading and we will see that Jesus wants his followers to be about a Gospel of inclusion, mercy and the building of community, not the tearing apart of.
If only Christians would become excited and enthusiastic about helping people to find their way to the Church because it is a place where they are loved, accepted and affirmed. A place and a people who promote holy living because of what we share in common in spite of our diversity, instead of trying to destroy diversity. A Church where our sexual and gender diversity really helps us all to discover new things about ourselves and each other so that we can grow in to a community of love and mission. I think that is what this Gospel is calling us to today. May Jesus find us at work building up inclusive communities where everyone is welcomed, affirmed, accepted and celebrated.
Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 25, Book of Common Prayer, page 235).
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Mission, Book of Common Prayer, page 100).
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