Proper 28 / Pentecost 26 / OT 33
Devotional
Water From the Well
Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A
Object:
... You have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.
-- Matthew 25:21
There is a mystery of inequality to life that we cannot explain. The parable acknowledges that there is inequality among the population. It also suggests that once God has blessed us, we are given a great deal of freedom in deciding how we are going to use what we have. At the same time, the parable reminds us that all we have is not our own but on loan to us, and how we choose to use this loan will reflect on our Master. It is another way of reflecting on our being created in the image of God. This parable holds out the daunting reality that how any of us use the resources and abilities that come into our lives does reflect on God. The parable also suggests that our choices of use may well reflect our response to the image of God that we hold. If we see God as an angry, vindictive God, then we may well act out of fear as the man with one talent did. The result is that we focus our attention on the scarcity of resources rather than the generosity of the giver. We begin to see God and life as harsh and unforgiving. We expect judgment rather than grace. The result is that we live life defensively. However, if we see God as a generous and merciful God, we are much freer to act in an expansive manner that produces much fruit. While the first two slaves were given differing amounts, they each responded to their given possibility to expand the pleasure of their master. By responding to grace, they experienced even more grace.
-- Matthew 25:21
There is a mystery of inequality to life that we cannot explain. The parable acknowledges that there is inequality among the population. It also suggests that once God has blessed us, we are given a great deal of freedom in deciding how we are going to use what we have. At the same time, the parable reminds us that all we have is not our own but on loan to us, and how we choose to use this loan will reflect on our Master. It is another way of reflecting on our being created in the image of God. This parable holds out the daunting reality that how any of us use the resources and abilities that come into our lives does reflect on God. The parable also suggests that our choices of use may well reflect our response to the image of God that we hold. If we see God as an angry, vindictive God, then we may well act out of fear as the man with one talent did. The result is that we focus our attention on the scarcity of resources rather than the generosity of the giver. We begin to see God and life as harsh and unforgiving. We expect judgment rather than grace. The result is that we live life defensively. However, if we see God as a generous and merciful God, we are much freer to act in an expansive manner that produces much fruit. While the first two slaves were given differing amounts, they each responded to their given possibility to expand the pleasure of their master. By responding to grace, they experienced even more grace.
