In the coat closet in the front hall of my parents’ home, there is a little pink Christian Dior baby dress, wrapped in plastic. It was a gift from the wife of my dad’s boss when I was born, but it was never used. I remember asking my mom about it as a kid, and remember her look of regret - it was so pretty, and so expensive, and it seemed to require a certain kind of event to be worn to, and she had been afraid that it would be ruined. Before too long I outgrew it, and then my younger siblings were both boys, and so the dress was never worn. The dress is still pristine, sure, but for what purpose?
I imagine that some of you have similar stories of special, expensive things, kept safely but never used. Our fear of breaking or ruining or losing such a special thing can prevent us from using it, can prevent us from fulfilling its purpose.
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| Photo by Jason Dent on Unsplash |
This story came to mind after reading about the third slave in today’s Gospel reading. Given an enormously generous gift by his master - a talent was a sum of money equivalent to twenty years’ wages - the third slave, risk-averse and fearful, buried the sum for safekeeping. When, finally, his master returns, the third slave brings out the money given to him - nothing gained, nothing lost. And yet, his master is furious, calls him wicked and lazy, and orders him to be thrown into the outer darkness. The money was safe, sure, but for what purpose?
Today’s reading comes from the Gospel of Matthew, and it follows immediately - in both proximity and theme - last week’s parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. As Jesus begins to look toward the end, he is preparing his followers for his going away. In the inevitable time between when Jesus ascends and when he returns, what are his followers to do? What does faithfulness look like in a time of waiting?
Like the slaves in the parable, we have been given enormously generous gifts by our Lord and master. We have been given the gift of life, the gift of grace, the gift of our skills and abilities, and the gift of the Gospel. Having been given these gifts, what are we to do with them? Should we tuck them away, so that they aren’t dinged up or ruined? Should we bury them for safekeeping?
The parable suggests that the correct answer is no - this is not what it looks like to be faithful. Again and again in the gospels we are reminded that the way of Jesus is the way of the cross. Safety and security are not part of the bargain. I’ve heard it said that perhaps an appropriate gift at baptism would be a crash helmet - for the life of faith we are called to is a risky one!
There seems to be encouragement here to live boldly - trusting in God’s abundant grace, not stuck in our fear. Like in the parable, there are certainly consequences of the kind of fearfulness that prevents us from acting with faith and courage. When we live by fearfulness instead of faithfulness, we miss out on the joy of our master and the gifts of community. When we live by fearfulness instead of faithfulness, others who are depending on us for care and support and a word of promise will suffer, too. It might be safer for us, yes - but for what purpose?
We have been given enormously generous gifts from God, and it is precisely because of these gifts that we can live faithfully rather than fearfully. In the waters of baptism, we are claimed as God’s children and assured that nothing can separate us from the love of God. At the communion table, we are fed and nourished by God’s forgiveness and life. In this community, we have the gift of one another, to encourage each other in our lives of faithfulness and joy. These gifts from God enable and encourage us as we live together faithfully. For these gifts, we give thanks.
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