Looking Ahead to November 15, 2020 -- Proper 28A, 24th Sunday after Pentecost

 The Scripture Readings this week are:

• Amos 5:18-24
• Matthew 25:14-30
  

The Sermon title is Use It Well!

Early Thoughts:When the Reign of God comes, there may be hard questions asked. How will we answer them? Judgement is apart of our story, part of the reality of life. We are accountable for the choices we make.

We don't like to talk about judgement very much. Or if we do it is to talk about how we think others should be judged. Some of us have heard the old lie that the God of Hebrew Scriptures is all about judgement and the God revealed in the Christian Scriptures is all about grace and mercy and forgiveness. Neither side of that statement is true. Throughout Scripture God is the one who judges and the one who is gracious, merciful, forgiving.

I love Amos. I also love to be reminded that if you like Amos you probably don't understand Amos. Amos does not pull any punches. Amos reminds folk that they have gotten things wrong. Amos reminds us that when the Day of the Lord comes, when God breaks into the world things can be uncomfortable. We will be held to account for the choices we have made. But Amos also reminds us of the ultimate goal, that time when justice flows like water.

Then we have our parable of the talents. To say it makes me uncomfortable is an understatement. What exactly is the point Jesus wants to make here? The whole "take from the poor and give to the rich" tone of the conclusion seems to go against the Law and the Prophets. At least if it is about the money.

Maybe it is about the choices. Maybe it isn't about the money. Maybe it is about taking risks for a larger goal. Maybe we are not called just to maintain what we have but take a risk to get something new. Maybe that is one of the criteria for judgement.

We have been given much. We have been entrusted with much. Do we use it well? Or do we misuse things so that our efforts become like (to borrow from Paul) a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal? Does our stewardship of the resources and talents with which we have been entrusted lead God to celebrate the move to justice or to despise our festivals and assemblies?

Judgement and accountability is part of our relationship with God. As we look toward the coming of the Reign of God we have to remember that.  Next week's conclusion to Matthew 25 will really make that clear.
--Gord