Considering What We Must Do - Homily 33rd Sunday OTA

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Praise be Jesus Christ – forever and ever.

When I was in about 2^nd grade, my dad had a Rambler American Station Wagon. It had a pushbutton transmission. I would watch him every day get in the car, start it up, and push the button to put it in drive.

It was the most fascinating thing for an 8-year old boy. I wanted to do it. Every day, I would watch him get in the car, start it up, and push the button to put it in drive.

I decided it was something I must do. I just needed the right opportunity.

At that time, my dad was pastor at Gorum Baptist Church. It was a small country church. There was no indoor plumbing, but an outhouse on either side of the church. One side was the lady’s outhouse. One side was the men’s out house. No real parking lot, just a sand and gravel yard for parking.

One Sunday, I had to use the outhouse. I saw the Rambler sitting there. Dad was busy leading the service. Mom was busy keeping my brothers from fighting in the pews as my dad preached. Everyone was inside worshipping Jesus. I can still hear the hymn they sung, “What a friend we have in Jesus…..”

Surely, Jesus wouldn’t mind if I did that one thing that I knew I must do.

So, I did everything I say my dad do - get in the car, start it up, and push the button to put it in drive.  I couldn’t reach the gas pedal or the brake, so the old wagon just idled forward. And, I ran over the outhouse.

I would like to assure you, no outhouses or station wagons were harmed in the making of this tale.

A friend asked me if I had a good homily to go with that story. I said “When it is right, the Holy Spirit will give me one!” Then I read Fr. Joseph Tetlow’s book “Handing on the Fire,” in it he writes, “What we are asked to do is keep His Commandments and accept the things we must do that His spirit confronts us with at every stage of our life.”

What are the things I must do?

It is an insight that goes hand in hand with my outhouse story. What is it that I want and what does God want. I don’t think Jesus really wanted me to run over the outhouse.  

It is also reflects the reading from the gospel - the parable of the talents. It is a parable that means something special to me.

The master of the house prepared for a journey and told his 3 servants to take care of his household and possessions until he returned. To one he gave five talents; to the 2^nd - two; to a third, one. The man gave to each according to his ability.

The one who had been given 5 talents was a obviously a very gifted and wise person. That servant was experienced. He probably had good people skills and was a wise businessman with a keen eye for the deal.

That servant knew he must do something.  The servant took the talents, put them to work, and returned the original talents with an additional 5 talents.

The master replied, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'

The second servant was given 2 talents. That servants abilities were probably not the same; but, but still good and useful gifts. The master of the house knew this and gave the servant the talents and freedom that would benefit his gifts.

That servant knew he must do something.  With the gifts that servant had, he were able return the original talents with an additional 2 talents.

And the master replied, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'

Then there was the 3rd servant. The master gave only 1 talent. The master still had expectations of that servant based on their talents and gifts. Maybe this servant was younger or not as experienced in this type of endeavors. But the master of the house recognized the servants gifts and talents and wanted the servant to do something.  

However, this servant could not accept the things they must do. The servant went off to hide his talents. The servant produced nothing, brought the talent and said - Here it is back.'   

His master said to him “You wicked, lazy servant!”

This parable does have a special place in my heart because I remember my Dad reflecting on the parable. He would have been 96 last week. It was the parable read at my dad’s funeral. I remembered my dad’s life, dedication to his family, church and these words -- “well done my good and faithful servant! Come share your Master's job.”

That same parable came back to me years later as I lay on a ventilator in ICU. I was dying. God put in my heart something closer to what the third servant heard. “Have you done what I asked - you wicked and lazy servant!”

With this in mind, I get anxious considering the things God asks of me. These are the things I must do that God has asked of me at the different stages in my life. However, prayer and study has allowed me to grow in this parable.  

We are to use what we are given for God’s purposes. We are to invest our lives, not waste them. We are to accept the things we must do.

The servant who received one talent did nothing with what he was given. He didn’t listen to what his master asked of him. He listened to his own ego and heard his own fears.

Many are guilty. They fear  the think I have little or no gifts and what I do will not amount to much. They hide their talents away ashamed and fearful. Nevertheless, Proverbs tell us we will be rewarded for our labor, even the most simple things done with great love.

Like each of us, the 3 servants were given opportunity to serve. Just like us, they had to face those opportunities differently. No two people have the same gifts to the same degree. Our gifts differ, according to grace given.

You can’t glorify God being the world’ greatest artist if you don’t have not been graced with the gift of artistic ability.

However, God does give us the gifts we need for the work God wants us to do.

·     The gifts of the Holy Spirit - wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

·     The gifts of everyday life - our skills, abilities, family connections, social positions, education, and experiences.

God does not endow people with identical or necessarily equal gifts. God does not expect identical or necessarily equal results from everyone's work. God does desire us to do things we must do with the gifts we are given. 

The things we must do are keep His Commandments and accept the things God confronts us with throughout our life. Each of us has the gifts (talents) and opportunities to work for God’s kingdom in this world. As we enter Advent, be like those servants and live with anticipation of the Lord’s return, doing what we must do.   

Don’t miss the opportunity.

Be good, be holy and follow Jesus, preaching the good news of His kingdom to the whole world.  Praise be Jesus Christ forever and ever, Amen.