Parables in Pentecost: Friend in Need

 Scripture

This final parable of the Pentecost series is from Luke. It follows right after Jesus teaches the disciples the Lord’s Prayer and highlights the responsiveness of God to our needs.

And he said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.” And he answers from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.” I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’ (Luke 11:5-13)

 

Conversation starters

We hear about someone who goes to a friend at midnight asking for bread. This seems an odd time to be asking for food and perhaps that’s the point. There is no bad time to come to God in prayer with our needs. Jesus notes, because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

Jesus then goes on to encourage us to ask, search, and knock, for everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. We are reminded that we do not withhold good things from our children, and therefore, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.

Sometimes we forget that and think some things are too big or too little to bother God about. “My need for a job is insignificant when there are so many dying in wars,” we may think. Or “God won’t care about my fear over the upcoming surgery, so I won’t pray.”

Like a loving parent, God wants us to bring our concerns and needs. Like the homeowner, he will take note of our needs and respond. I will note that God’s timeline for response may not match my timeline. I “want what I want when I want it” as the 1905 operetta Mlle. Modiste states. God knows what we really need and the timing of responding to that. It may seem God, like the homeowner is saying, Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything. But, God will respond in our best interest.

Action Item

What are some things you hesitate to ‘bother’ God with?

To help you visualize the parable, you might draw 3 loaves of bread and write on each one something you want to pray for or about. Add this to your daily prayer routine.

Parables in Pentecost: Rich Fool

 Scripture

As those of us in the US (and around the world) ponder and process the election results, our Parable for this week is about the “Rich Fool.” It is a familiar one about a man who built extra barns for his bounty, but did not get to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

This parable comes after someone in the crowd said to [Jesus], ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.’ But he said to him, ‘Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?’ And he said to them, ‘Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.’ (Luke 12:13-15)

Luke goes on to relate the parable:

Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly.  And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’ (Luke 12:16-21)

Then he expounds further to his disciples, saying, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. (Luke 12:21-31)

Conversation starters

How might the parable and the teaching before and following encourage us to see what is important. The person (probably a man) in the crowd who wants his fair share of an inheritance and the fictional rich man who builds useless barns rather than sharing his bounty are contrasted with God’s total care for every part of creation. The birds and grass are just as important as humanity. Furthermore, we cannot really control any part of our lives. We cannot add a single hour, nor change the past.

Holocaust survivor and psychologist Viktor Frankl said “Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation. You cannot control what happens to you in life, but you can always control what you will feel and do about what happens to you.” (Man’s Search for Meaning, first published 1946) Nelson Mandela acknowledged much the same thing on release from prison, “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.” Mandela made a conscious choice to release hatred, bitterness, and fear. God calls us to do the same and let God have control of our lives.  

Action Item

Take time to consider, as a friend of mine did publicly on Facebook, the implicit biases that affect your decisions and your need to control certain things. For instance, I come from a place of privilege as a white, middle-class woman with a secure home and enough money for the foreseeable future. I have a loving husband and health. My children are content, and… I could go on because, in fact, I am very blessed. Yet, I can feel out of control and fearful when any of those blessings are threatened in real or imagined ways.

The Rich Fool in the parable learns that he cannot really control who gets his bounty. We may feel we have lost control if the election didn’t go the way we hoped, or we may feel jubilant and think we are in control if we are happy with the outcome. Both are false. God alone is in control. Paradoxically God’s control comes at the cost of letting everything go and taking up the cross. Jesus’ parable reminds us, so it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.

Think about a few things in your life that you think you ‘control.’ Ask yourself if that is true or not.

Think about your response when things feel out of control. Can you share your fear or anger or other emotions with God? Can you open your hands, even a little, and let God be in control?

We can choose to live for the kingdom—the Reign of God. We can try to be in right and loving relationship with God and therefore with all creation and with other humans. Not an easy task. Nelson Mandela stated, “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” Maybe, as this image suggests we simply need to get outside our walls and reconnect in many simple ways with each other…

 

 

Parables in Pentecost: Prodigal Son

 Scripture

We return to looking at the Parables in the church season of Pentecost with the story of the Prodigal Son. This parable is found only in the Gospel of Luke. Some scholars have suggested that it could be titled the “Prodigal Father” because of the great love with which he welcomes his dissolute son home.

11 Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. ¹²The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. ¹³A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. ¹⁴When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. ¹⁶He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. ¹⁷But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! ¹⁸I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; ¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’ ” ²⁰So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. ²¹Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” ²²But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; ²⁴for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate.

25 ‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. ²⁷He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” ²⁸Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. ²⁹But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. ³⁰But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” ³¹Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³²But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” ’ (Luke 15:11-32)

Conversation starters

The story of the Prodigal Son is an interesting one to consider on the weekend of All Saints and All Souls remembrances. All Saints Day (Nov. 1) recalls the ‘big name’ saints of the church calendar. All Souls Day (Nov. 2) is a less well-known feast day to remember all the saints and loved ones in our lives.

The father in the parable rushes to greet his returning son with grace and forgiveness and love. God rushes to greet us, and all the other saints around us, in just the same way. In fact, he is so joyful he says, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!”

We are told there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7). Too often, though, we can be like the older brother who is angry over the party given to his brother. He doesn’t recognize the father had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.

In these last couple days before the General Election, there is much division and finger-pointing, and outright hate between those who disagree over the best candidate. Perhaps it would behoove us to be more prodigal in our love. Perhaps if we celebrate the sainted-ness of each individual we meet, no matter what their political position is, we will find a common humanity no matter the outcome.

I would also suggest this post from the Center of Contemplation and Action highlighting a sermon by Richard Rohr from 2017 as applicable as how to live now and post election.  

Action Item

This weekend would be a good time to remember that we each are a saint of God, as the song says “for the saints of God are just folks like me…”

Think of the saints in your life and, if possible, thank them for their presence in your life.

Halloween

 Halloween, or more specifically “All Hallows Eve” has evolved into a day for costumes and candy. Originally it was more important in the life of the church as the day before all the departed were remembered. Even earlier than Christianity, the feast of Samhain remembered the ‘thin time’ when the veil between this world and the next was open so the dead could return to visit their loved ones.

A similar custom continues in the Latin community in the Americas with Dia de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead. This is a joyful time to honor and remember the ancestors with treats and flowers. The Disney movie Coco is a fun way to learn more about this tradition.

Parables in Pentecost: Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids

 Scripture

The parable for today is often called the Wise and Foolish Virgins (or Bridesmaids). It seems a little foreign to us because our customs are so different. In ancient times (and some places even now), the bridegroom comes to the bride at her home to marry her. He is accompanied by friends and she by her bridesmaids who help light the way during the wedding procession to his home and the wedding banquet. We do retain the custom of having at least a maid-of-honor and best man, and often many other attendants at weddings today, but their role is ornamental rather than necessary.

The core of the story, however, is that the bridesmaids had oil lamps and some of them didn’t have enough oil for them. At first glance, it looks like a case of being unprepared. Elisabeth Johnson on the Luther Seminary blog suggests, “The parable of the bridesmaids serves as a call to self-examination. Are our priorities aligned with God’s priorities, or are we so distracted with secondary concerns that we risk missing what is most important — the presence of Jesus in our midst?” Commentary on Matthew 25:1-13 - Working Preacher from Luther Seminary

‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ²Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; ⁴but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. ⁶But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” ⁷Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” ⁹But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” ¹⁰And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. ¹¹Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” ¹²But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” ¹³Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13)

Conversation starters

Elizabeth Johnson also notes that this parable is one of the series in Matthew 24-25 about the coming of the Son of Man which stress that Jesus’ followers need to always be ready because you know neither the day nor the hour. She asks if the problem of the foolish bridesmaids was not the lack of oil, but that “they acted as if their primary job was to have oil in their lamps, when this was only a means to an end. Their primary job was to welcome the bridegroom and accompany the bridal party with joy. Because they got distracted with secondary concerns, they missed the bridegroom’s arrival and missed out on the party.” 

Johnson reminds us that Jesus teaching emphasizes ministry to the “least of these.” (see Matthew 25:40 and elsewhere) Johnson says the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins is a call to self-reflection on ways we may fall into "complacency and distraction. Because we don’t really expect Jesus to come anytime soon, we forget the urgency of the mission he has given us. We get distracted with so many other secondary concerns. Our priorities get skewed…In fact, Jesus is already among us, identifying with the lowly, and how we respond to his presence is a crucial indicator of the health of our relationship with him.”

What are ways we can get distracted away from the true will of God to bring into fruition the Kingdom of Heaven?

How are we complacent in our stability and security while the ‘least of these’ struggle?

Action Item

There is a song that can remind us of being prepared: Give me oil in my Lamp, Keep me Burning, also called Sing Hosanna that you may want to listen to.

Parables in Pentecost: The Talents

 This week we look at a familiar parable that has been interpreted in many ways. A rich man goes on a trip after entrusting three servants with huge sums of money. When he returns, he rewards them as they deserve. Is this a parable about how we use the gifts (talents) God gives us, or about how to use money wisely, or about the reward we get for doing good? Maybe it’s about something else entirely.

Jesus says the Kingdom of Heaven is like God entrusting his servants with unimaginable wealth. Sometimes we deal honestly with that gift, and sometimes we don’t. The story is found in both the Gospel of Matthew and Luke with slight variations. One of these is that Matthew has the master give 5 and 2 and 1 talent to his three servants. Luke ups the stewardship amount to 1 pound to each of 10 servants. We only hear about three of their results. One made 10 pounds, the second 5 pounds and the last buried his money. You may want to read both versions for comparison. 

Scripture

14 ‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; ¹⁵to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. ¹⁶The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. ¹⁷In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. ¹⁸But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. ¹⁹After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” ²¹His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” ²²And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” ²³His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” ²⁴Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; ²⁵so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” ²⁶But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? ²⁷Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. ²⁹For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ³⁰As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:14-30) also Luke 19:12-27

Conversation starters

In the Matthew version of the parable the three servants get talents. A talent is an ancient weight measure of precious metals like gold and silver. It is believed to be about 75 pounds of metal. There is mention of the use of 29 talents of gold for the tabernacle built during the Exodus (Exodus 38:24). That is over a ton of gold for the tabernacle!

By the First Century a talent was equal to 6000 denarii, the Roman currency. It is hard to determine the exact modern equivalent. Scholars estimate a talent would be worth somewhere between $1000 and $30,000 today. Others think it could be worth even more. The point is that the master gave his servants an unthinkable amount of money to steward while he was gone.

This parable is often used during church stewardship drives to encourage giving. It can also be used to suggest that we all have physical talents and gifts that we can use for good and for God’s kingdom.

If we think outside the box of these usual interpretations, what might this parable teach us about God’s extravagance and our response to that love? God’s power fills us, as the prayer by St. Paul for the Ephesians notes, [so that] you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, ¹⁷and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. ¹⁸I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:16-21)

What is your first thought about this parable?

Are their talents or monetary gifts that God has entrusted you with that you might ‘hide’?

Is God at work in us, as Paul says, the true treasure given to us? 

Action Item

The icon shows Jesus blessing the man with 10 talents and naming him "Good and Faithful Servant." Think about Paul's prayer for us to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

How does that apply to being a Good and Faithful Servant? 

I’ll be out of town next week. See you on the 20^th.

Parables in Pentecost: Lost Coin

 This parable follows the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke’s Gospel. We looked at that familiar story on August 11. The Lost Coin is not as common because it seems almost like a repeat of the Lost Sheep, except that a woman is the star of the story.

But is that all there is to it? Just as the woman is so delighted to find the lost coin that she calls her neighbors to tell them, Jesus says God rejoices over our repentance. We are a priceless treasure to God, and he rejoices over us every day.   

Scripture

‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” ¹⁰Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’ (Luke 15:8-10)

The woman in this story is likely looking for one of her ten dowry coins. This represents all the wealth she had in case something happens to her husband. She would have the ten coins to live on for the rest of her life. The Greek word for coin here is drachmas. That is about a day’s wages at the time. She is looking for something worth quite a bit.

A commentator points out that there is no mention of a husband in this story, so we might wonder if, in fact, she is a widow and really needs to find the coin. Looking past the woman and her found coin, we are reminded that there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Like in the parable of the Lost Sheep, we are worth so much that God will not stop seeking us out.

Conversation starters

Have you ever lost something valuable, or simply something important to you like car keys?

Imagine that what you lost was really the only thing between you and destitution. How much more would you want to find it?

Think about God’s great love that searches for you and me no matter what. How does that make you feel?

Action Item

Use the maze to find the drachma coin.