Proper 20C                R Lundquist                           9/23/07

Amos 8:4-7       http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=57921815

Luke 16:1-13     http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=57521085

“⁴Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land…” 

Thus said Amos to the greedy of his time.  And we have recently seen the same from Enron.  Qwest.  Martha Stewart Inc.  All examples of dishonesty at the top of the pile.  But today we have the case of the misguided middle manager.

            What a strange story!  Is he crooked or shrewd?

Woody Allen wrote in a dialogue:  “Good people have at least 1 advantage over the wicked – they sleep better at night.”  “Ah, but the wicked seem to enjoy their waking hours more…”                  

            In today’s Gospel lesson Jesus is having fun at the Pharisees’ expenses.  He knows they’re listening, so he pitches a curve.  He seems to endorse dishonesty – and we end up with a sort of reality show.  “Survivor:  Holy Land.”  The parable seems to be about surviving one’s own bad decisions. 

What’s Jesus’ point?

            First, read “worldly” for “dishonest,” after the New International Version of the Bible.  I chose this because I believe Jesus’ point is that earthly money has no eternal value – if you’ve got it, use it for others.  (Anne Robertson)  The steward scrambles to survive.  Like coyote in a road-runner cartoon, he’s run over the edge of the cliff and tries to pedal against gravity before he falls into the abyss.  And in this case of the wily manager, it works!  He keeps job, and is even commended by boss.  Jesus says, “The children of this age are more shrewd in dealing w/ their own generation than are the children of light.”  <scratch your head and say, “Huh?”>

            Fellow children of light, we are all too often too timid, too cautious, to do God any good.  We play it safe.  We stress over whether we are staying within budget.  We miss opportunities to further the kingdom because we’re too nice.  “Wake up!” says Jesus.  The Good News is a matter of survival.  For you, and for the world.

            It’s been said, “An Episcopalian is someone willing to do anything for the love of God… except be tacky.”  Jesus is calling for total abandonment to the Divine – and that includes the willingness to be tacky.  Jesus calls you to a vulnerable commitment.  The children of this age are shrewd, know when to bend the rules when it makes a difference.  They will be generous to others when it is to their advantage – should not Christians be willing to do much, much more?  Even ethically-challenged business people will give to charity, if only for the tax benefits…

Try this on:  God is the rich man in this parable, and you are the steward.  A manager not of mammon (worldly possessions, not just “wealth”), but of everything created.  Beauty, time, energy, joy, love, family, friends.  You’re called in to the boss’ office one day – “I hear you’ve been squandering my property!  Get you affairs in order –  you’ve got 1 week.”

            So what would you do?  Will you be as bold as this manager in the parable?  Remember, you’re the steward of everything created, over which you’ve been given “dominion.” (See Genesis).  Will you throw a party?  Hug indiscriminately?  Take long walks?  Smell the flowers?  Feed the ducks?  Go bowling?  Take some children to the zoo?

            Desperation sharpens the senses, doesn’t it?  It’s time to scramble.

            This is what Jesus is about!  You are acting like the worldly manager before that “come to Jesus” talk when you squander God’s gifts.  Commit to survive, says Jesus. 

I taught canoeing at summer camps for many years – I know what happens when you have one  foot on the dock and one in the canoe.  That’s what’s going on when you waffle.

This is a rich text for thinking about your financial giving to St Paul’s.  The question isn’t really about what the church needs – it’s about what you need.  What you do with your money is one aspect of a disciplined spiritual life.  God wants you to give of yourself because giving is living.  The Dead Sea in the Holy Land is dead because there is no outlet.  Water flows in, but doesn’t flow out.  The sea is dead because it doesn’t give.

So, says Jesus today, learn to scramble – not for yourself but for the wellbeing of all people.  Jesus said something about how you lose your life when you cling to it, and you gain your life when you give it away.

            Is it impossible to be honest, cautious & prudent; AND shrewd, cunning & quick-thinking, children of light?  Are these qualities mutually exclusive?  (Clayton J. Schmit)  I think not. 

But I do believe what I’ve said before: that 1) St Paul’s needs you, 2) you need St Paul’s, and 3) Ft Collins needs St Paul’s.  We are at a critical juncture now.  This show is “Survivor:  Ft Collins.”  It’s scramble time.  It’s time for your vulnerable commitment.  It’s time to be shrewd and cagey about God’s mission, here and now, O children of light.

                                    Amen.

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