2nd Before Advent (A) – Sunday 19th November 2023 – St Anne’s, Wrenthorpe
Morning Worship
Reflection 1 (before Gospel)
What are you like with exams….?
Perhaps the question should be in the past tense….
As we grow older, the exams become more medical and less academic!
In the main…
I was terrible at exams, at school, and beyond…
I have a shockingly poor memory which, coupled with anxiety, the expectation of others and a fear of failure…. Is a recipe for disaster!
Much of our lives, it seems, are spent meeting the criteria set before us – meeting the challenges of any given situation – attaining more through our efforts and achieving some goals that don’t always seem clear or, in fact, meet those earlier exceptions….. those set by family, school, society, employers and our peers, or dare I say it… religion.
We will know people for whom religion has been a constant endeavour to ‘achieve something’ – to make God happy, to avoid judgment and punishment…. To get to Heaven with the best qualifications!
For some, the wrath of God is for other people, right now!
I was raised in a Christian family, where Jesus was to be found in the harsh realities of human existence;
Where the sinful could have some hope….
That life was hard enough without extra burdens being inflicted by the Church.
In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, he urges them to not live in fear of God’s wrath and judgement – but to be ready – for the time when God comes near…
To work together in encouragement – living in the Light….
”For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Whatever comes to test you….
Do not be afraid….!
Step into the light.
There’s no exam… just love!
Reflection 2 (after Gospel)
I always hear this Gospel as the Parable of the TALONS….!
Grrr!
Perhaps because it could be quite scary, in how it is received….
Good slave – bad slave.
Wicked slave, lazy slave….
Weeping and gnashing of teeth and outer darkness….
Horrible!
Perhaps I read this and think it refers to me – for my poor efforts at living a Gospel life.
For not making enough out of what I have been blessed with….
Maybe?
Do you hear that, about yourselves?
Wait though…. Are we supposed to see God in all of this as the harsh Master?
The one who puts faith in slaves, in unequal amounts, and expects great things without any instruction or indication of when he will return?
Hmmmm.
Are we to see ourselves in the frightened and rather unimaginative slave?
Are my peers all getting it right, fully qualified in the art of spiritual investment, whilst I live a life fearful of God, and hiding my light under a bushel basket?
Is that a relationship with God that we hope for in Jesus?
Would we actually want that?
I don’t know about you, but….
I just can’t get my head – or any part of me – around the idea of a constantly wrathful God, seeking out our misfortunes, punishing wickedness and generally making us fearful.
I will never draw only that concept of God from scripture…
In Christ we have heard different…. And I hope and pray that I can Live Different.
I rather think that, once more, Jesus was calling out Israel to remember its place before God, and to take itself to task for not helping people to live their best life – hopeful and alive in God;
Living by the Law that didn’t promote joyful, abundant life – that made people afraid to take the risks that love asks of us.
There are many other passages in which Jesus presents such challenges to us, and they need some wrestling with.
Yes, we all need to make the most of what we are blessed with, for the building of the Kingdom.
Yet we must not forget that Christ came to tell even the most lowly that the Kingdom of God was for everyone.
Please don’t focus on the outer darkness and the weeping and gnashing of teeth!
If all we see is a punitive vision of God, then how can we tell others about Jesus – about the hope that comes from a love deep enough to make sacrifice – a gift of love that has no cost – that asks only to turn your life around and try again…?
We could all have been that slave, the one who says – here, take it back, it’s yours and I don’t want it – you don’t care about me.
Thats not Christian Discipleship….
But we can be like the others that take risks and seek out love and build on the promises that Christ offers – not just for a pat on the back or to avoid the outer darkness… but because it is the way to abundant life.
Thanks be to God.
Matthew 25.14-30 – 1 Thessalonians 5.1-11 – Zephaniah 1.7, 12-end