Whether you take the talents to be amounts of money or capabilities, all such blessings or investments come from God. Everyone here today has been given a significant amount of material and spiritual talents. To deny this through "poor talk" or envious (and short sighted) comparison with others keeps us from the joy of thanksgiving and faithful stewardship of God's blessings. We are so loved that God not only gave His only Son for our redemption, but talents for the building of God's rule and reign.

All is of God, yet we are entrusted with the high privilege of building to God's glory. In the economy of God, even the so called "one talent" person has abundant capability. George Buttrick says one has ability to draw the plans for the cathedral, another to compose music for its organ, some carve the stone, some build the road to the door and no one is without gifts essential to the building.

The first two servants in the story trust the master who entrusted them with the talents. This is seen in the land lord's leaving and expecting a profit, and the servants taking a risk in employing means at their disposal to allow the talents to grow. The expected outcome of the story is to find that even the one talent is parlayed into glorious growth. But this is just the point where our mind "is teased into active thought." For the third servant goes against the flow of the expected teaching.

We expected this trusted servant to also trust the master. Instead he plays it safe, buries the substance of the owner. The next surprise is that we see ourselves in just such an action. We are more afraid of failure than we are able to trust the Master. Even a little faith in response to the great love that God has entrusted to us will yield much in the Kingdom. We have seen it over and over again: a child's meager lunch feeds a multitude, a black woman's refusal to go to the back of the bus spawns a civil right's revolution.

Yet, we are afraid. The third servant in the story says it is the harshness of the master that triggers his fear and the need to bury the talent. We recognize it as the fear of failure. In the end of the movie, "Tin Cup," the less than perfect hero refuses to play it safe. No, he does not win the rich, televised golf tournament. Yes, he does keep faith with his better self and the gifts he has been given, because of the risk he takes. In golf, there may be times to lay up, to play it safe, but in the service of the gospel, taking the risk is the only way we show trust in the Master who did not play it safe, "but gave Himself for us." (Gary D. Stratman)

First Sunday of Advent (B)

December 1, 2002

Stay Awake

Mark 13:24-37

Nobody has to shake children into watchfulness, as they are already fidgeting toward Christmas. But for many adults it is difficult to remember what we are awaiting! The pressure of being happy, the unexpected setbacks, the short tempers take their toll. Given this inevitable entropy we need most of all to hear the energizing word of Advent "Stay Awake!"