Hope Risk

26th Sunday after Pentecost

Proper 28

Matthew 25:14-30

"Hope, Risk"

14 ¶ "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property;

15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more.

17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more.

18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ’Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’

21 His master said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’

22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ’Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’

23 His master said to him, ’Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’

24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ’Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow;

25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’

26 But his master answered him, ’You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed?

27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.

29 For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’RSV

Grace and Peace to you from Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

I would like to tell you two stories this morning which, I think deal very well with out gospel lesson.

The first:

Once a chief left his village for a long journey and put his three children in charge of the people. His oldest son was the best hunter: "Little Elk," said the chief, "you must take command of the hunters; keep them keen and accurate for the winter will be harsh and the people will need much food to survive. Every hunter must be at his very best at all times." To his daughter, the chief said: "Running Deer, you must watch over the women of the tribe. They must gather food and weave many warm clothes to protect our people from the cold."

His youngest son, and his favorite, was Falling Leaf, the tribe’s best dancer "My son, your responsibility is to free the people’s hearts with your dancing and ease their minds in difficult times. The spirit of our tribe is in your hands; do not fail them."

"I will do my best," replied Falling Leaf.

When the chief returned, he found many of his people dead and many more hungry, cold and dispirited. Little Elk said: "The winter was harsh, Father, as you predicted. The hunters went out every day, but game was scarce; they returned each night empty-handed and soon gave up hope." He was ashamed, but the chief touched his head and said,"No need for shame, my Son; you have done your best."

Then came Running Deer; "Forgive me, Father, but the women were so saddened by the lack of food and their dying children that they stopped trying to gather food in the snow. We have woven what we could, but it was not enough for everyone."

The chief dried her tears and hugged her: "No shame, my daughter; you have done your best."

When Falling Leaf entered, the chief said: "My son, when the cold winter oppressed the people and lack of food broke their spirit, did you not dance to give them hope and memories of better days?"

"I did not," said Falling Leaf. "It seemed too frivolous and foolish to dance in the face of such despair. I sat in my tepee and wept for our fate."