Today’s parable from Jesus is frequently referred to as the “Shrewd or Dishonest Steward.” The steward or manager in this parable was accused as squandering his master’s wealth. Notice that between last Sunday’s Gospel reading about the lost sheep and the lost coin and today’s passage – the lectionary skips over what we commonly refer to as “The Parable of the Prodigal Son.” Prodigal means “wasteful.” Now, in that parable the father ends up being more prodigal or wasteful than his lost-and-now-found son – at least in the eyes of the older son who refused to go to the father’s homecoming party for the other son. The older brother believes he was never wasteful and he remained frugally at home while his little brother squandered the wealth he was supposed to inherit, but now the father is throwing an expensive party - killing the fatted calf, dressing in a robe and putting the ring of authority on him – willfully “wasting” his own wealth on his loved one. And we Christians now agree that this story best reflects the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father - steadfast, loving and kind. He is always ready to forgive. This is true grace – abundant in time, place, and purpose. God’s grace goes before our own notions and understanding. That’s why Wesley called it “prevenient.” Then God’s grace justifies us in spite of our sinful squandering of his riches in this life. We are all the untrustworthy stewards, if we truly begin to understand how perfect and holy God really is - how righteous and pure Jesus Christ is. God’s grace is the sanctifying force that draws us to reflect Christ’s holiness.
So with that said, remember that the manager/steward in the current parable is only alleged to be a wastrel – a squanderer. Ironically, there is no evidence offered to prove the accusation that may be full-blown embezzlement and thievery or a case of unfounded slander – until the manager actually performs according to his true character.
In order to save himself from doing what he doesn’t want to do – dig like a common laborer – or be disgraced and embarrassed as a common beggar – he plans and carries out what bankruptcy trustees, collection attorney’s, settlement mediators and even everyday bargain-basement-bartering-merchants, and dickering horse-traders commonly use as their “tool in trade.” They discount. You know, 10 cents on the dollar – let me sweeten the deal with (you fill in the optional perk)_ - or “let’s just call this a special favor.) But the main difference here retains questions: “Are you (I mean is anyone in these circumstances) authorized to deal down, devalue and discounted debts? Our secular laws say that without a “Principal’s” authority and go-ahead such an “agent” of that principal’s authority would be committing at worse embezzlement and larceny and at least mismanagement. But if the master is like God almighty who forgives our sins freely by His grace in Jesus Christ, then we are forgiven much more than the tenant farmers with 50 baths of oil to the 100 actually owed and 80 measures of wheat to the 100 owed.
The owner (presumed to assume to roll of our Heavenly Father) chooses to ignore the original accusations and the obvious continued abuses of willful disobedient squandering of worldly wealth. The master in this story surprises us with a Godliness that is starkly redeemed from the “once there was a rich man” at the beginning of the story. And at the end we have a transformed loving and forgiving – yes, one showing the very quality of God.
Portia’s Quality of Mercy courtroom oration in Act III Scene 5 of The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare can give us insight in how we humans are invited by Jesus the Christ to this kind of metamorphosis from mere human condition and judgment to Godly mercy and grace through the example and disciplined imitation of our Lord and Savior in our personal and everyday lives:
The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this, That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.
John Wesley’s New Room in Bristol England taught 18th century England how to practice God’s mercy and grace in very practical ways:
John first built a chapel in his hometown when he started preaching outdoors to the poor in his hometown of Bristol. Now, it is the oldest Methodist place of worship in the world (1739), the cradle of Methodism, where Sunday Service are held in summer months like they were held year round before downtown Bristol became empty on Sundays - and congregations moved to the suburbs. The New Room is suffering from the same lack of critical mass as churches in downtown Montgomery. Yet, every Friday at 1 pm there is a 15 minute service of Holy Communion in the chapel, which hosts many of the city’s blue collar workers, merchants, government leaders and visitors. This year the New Room is hosting many special Services and Musical events to mark the 300th Anniversary of the birth of Charles Wesley and the 200th Anniversary of the Bill to Abolish the Slave Trade. There are signs of rejuvenation, but will it last?
The Methodists in England have allowed the Welsh Reform Church to “manage” and use the New Room instead of Re-connecting with its original function to house, minister and educate many of those people who responded to open-air-field-preaching. The religious societies like the holy club originally met in people's homes then began to assemble in the New Room – much like the people who built these church buildings began. But the squandering spirit of devoted people spreading the Gospel is not very apparent. Where is adventure and passion in downtown Bristol and Montgomery? What is stopping them from not serving mammon (wealth and riches) and to serve God with what Wesley called 'our new room in the Horsefair'? Somewhere along the way the Methodists stopped using it as a dispensary of food and medical care as well as a schoolroom, meeting place and worship place for the POOR.
Dear Heavenly Father please save our church from becoming a museum of past glories. Help us to continue to take our faith to the unchurched and especially to the poor who are often neglected by the Established Church. Help us to found and firmly maintain ministries for Montgomery like the Wesley family did for Bristol - not just for the few, but for everyone. Please bless us so as to bless others in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment