Make The Most Of God's Gifts
Sermon
Sermons on the Second Readings
Series II, Cycle B
John Harding had it all; his credentials were impeccable. He had a wonderful family. His wife, Sally, was one of those people everyone enjoys meeting. His eight-year-old son, Rick, was a good student, enjoyed athletics, and obeyed his parents. John himself had moved up the corporate ladder. After graduating from Arizona State University, where he played baseball well enough to be offered a professional contract, he moved to California's "Silicon Valley" and signed on with one of the many software companies with headquarters in the region. Through his brains, diligence, and much hard work he rapidly moved into management, beginning at the bottom and moving up. Still in his thirties, national publications such as Forbes, U.S.A. Today, and The Wall Street Journal commented favorably on his managerial style. John Harding seemed to have the perfect resume for life: academic achievement, awards, and many positions of importance. Yet, he sometimes wondered if he used his gifts wisely.
With such a record it was not a big surprise when Millennium, the third largest software manufacturer in the world, asked Harding to be its chief executive officer. John jumped at the offer. Not only was it a great position, but it would allow him to return to his native New England. He settled in his home town of Boland, New Hampshire, only twenty miles or so from Concord, the world headquarters for Millennium.
Everything seemed to be going well for John. The town welcomed a favorite son; the company liked their new boss. Then in the twinkling of an eye everything changed for John Harding. Sally and Rick were riding in the family car. A drunk driver crossed the centerline and an instant later they were both gone. John Harding had the all the gifts for success, but when tragedy struck, he did not know how to use them. He was a man who placed all his trust in his own ability; he never had to rely on others. Now, however, in grief and shock, he crawled into a shell of mourning and refused to come out.
After a couple of months, an old friend, Bill West, came to John to see if he could pull him from his state of grief. He knew that John liked baseball; maybe he would consider being the manager of one of Boland's four summer little league teams. Harding tried to run away, but Bill West was persistent and so John agreed. His team was the Angels.
It was at this time that John Harding met little Timmy Noble. Timmy, a member of the Angels, was eight years old and a tow-head just like his son Rick. Unlike his son, however, Timmy was not a good player; he did not have the gifts for baseball. He did not possess the keen eye to be a good hitter and he did not have the strong arm needed to be a good fielder. But Timmy Noble had some very important qualities, nonetheless. He had courage and a big heart -- how can one measure such qualities? He had determination and, most especially, Timmy Noble had faith in God. He didn't worry about what he couldn't do; he was grateful for what he had. He had decided a long time ago to place his trust in God.
The Angels did well that year; in fact they won the league championship. Timmy Noble was not one of the stars; he just was not gifted as a baseball player. But there was something wrong, something radically wrong. Timmy Noble was very sick. He never told anyone; he never complained. He came to every practice and played in each game, even though he had to ride his bike five miles each way to the field. When the season was over and it was revealed that Timmy Noble had terminal cancer, John Harding knew the reason that God had led him to manage the Angels. John had the perfect gifts for personal success, but Timmy Noble used his gifts for the benefit of others.1
Timmy Noble was not blessed with natural talent as a baseball player, but he had great gifts nonetheless and used them to their maximum. His seemingly limited gifts were actually abundant for he used them to convert John Harding from his personal misery and sadness into a man who was able to care for others. This is precisely what Saint Paul tells the Ephesians in today's Second Reading from scripture.
The religious world of Saint Paul was characterized by a minority status. The vast majority of the people with whom Paul had contact were pagans; monotheism as practiced by the Jews was a unique concept in religion and was not popular. When Paul was converted on the road to Damascus his religious purview became even more narrow as he became part of the Judeo-Christian community, a small sect that found itself alienated not only from the polytheism of the pagans but increasingly also from the Jewish community in which he was firmly rooted as a Pharisee. Paul's mission to the Gentiles thus had a certain sense of urgency. Not only was he surrounded by those who opposed his views, but additionally and probably more fundamentally Paul firmly believed that Christ's promised return to claim the world, the Parousia, was imminent. This belief was certainly a major factor in Paul's teaching on marriage and vocation. Convinced that Jesus would soon return, Paul thought it wise to suggest to the Corinthians: "In whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters, there remain with God" (1 Corinthians 7:24).
Paul also dealt with this issue with the Thessalonians. Here, the question was whether those who died before the Lord's return would inherit the promise of eternal life. Paul answered, "For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have died" (1 Thessalonians 4:15). Thus, for Paul procrastination in the Christian life was not an option. Those who chose the "new way" needed to get going and waste no time. They were to be active about the business of the Lord. Paul realized that Jesus came to inaugurate the kingdom of God, but it would be the task of his followers to do their share to complete the work and make God's reign a reality.
Thus, as we heard this morning, Paul writes to the Ephesians with a message of urgency in the right and proper use of the gifts we have been given. First, Paul tells the people to live as wise people and make the most of every day, for the days are evil. This was certainly good advice, but in the environment of the pagan city of Ephesus and with the understanding that the days were short, such a warning was essential. Paul was telling the people that Christians had a special vocation to fully and rightly use each and every day. Each day brought many opportunities to give praise and glory to God, occasions to continue the construction of God's kingdom in this world. The apostle understood human nature well and the tendency we have to procrastinate, to let things go, the attitude that we will always have tomorrow. Paul was most probably aware of Jesus' teaching on the coming kingdom (Luke 17:20-37) and the need for vigilance. Jesus was very clear, "Beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come" (Mark 13:33). Paul himself warned the Thessalonians: "For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!" (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3). Time was of the essence; it should not be wasted.
Next, Paul tells the people not to be foolish, suggesting that they seek God's will. Again, Paul understood that people often wish to "go it alone" and not be tuned into God. He tells the Ephesians they must do their best to know God's will in their lives. The apostle goes on to say this can best be accomplished by not wasting time with foolish things, such as with excessive drinking, but to be filled with the Holy Spirit. He suggests using time to praise God and most especially to thank the Lord for all he has done. Paul understood that prayers of contrition and petition were important, but also prayers of praise and thanksgiving were necessary for all of the Lord's many and manifest blessings.
Paul's teaching tells us there is a need to strike a balance in our lives in using our time and gifts wisely. Two polar extremes exist in our world that make this balance hard to achieve. One pole is associated with those the world labels "workaholics." The popularity of this expression is certainly associated with the old adage, "All work and no play makes a dull Jane or John." This statement forces us to consider the need to balance the demands of contemporary life with some personal time, spent alone, with God, or in recreation with family and friends.
The other end of the spectrum is less addressed and thus, as Saint Paul suggests, some significant reflection upon the human tendencies toward procrastination and laziness is needed. One might label the procrastinator's creed as: "Leave until tomorrow what can be done today." As excessive work, the "workaholic" mentality can lead the wrong way, so too can an attitude of continually letting things go. We need to strike a balance, a lesson that John Harding only learned "through the back door."
There are several ways we can challenge ourselves and others to address the important questions Paul raises in today's lesson. He suggests the need for diligence concerning the things we do. Last week we heard Paul's recipe for eternal life; now we must sincerely and forcefully do what is necessary to put all these ingredients together; it will not happen without a high level of effort on our part. All the ingredients for the pie may be present, but until the baker diligently applies her skills there will be no result; no one will reap the benefits of the gifts, talents, and opportunities given by God.
There are many reasons why we are less diligent than possibly we should be and few, I suppose, have much to do with genuine laziness. We may feel inadequate to the task, perceiving that our God-given skills are not sufficient to successfully complete the job. There are occasions as well when the time we have, considering our ever-increasing list of responsibilities, or lack of opportunity to engage a particular task, is insufficient. As important as a task may be and as much as we might want to help, we cannot respond to all possibilities. All people need "down time"; we must choose among the myriad of tasks and opportunities that come our way.
We must admit, however, that inside each of us lies a sense of complacency. We should listen to the Prophet Amos concerning such laziness: "Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall; who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David improvise on instruments of music; who drink wine from bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile, and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away" (Amos 6:4-7). We all have a tendency to concentrate first on our own needs and then secondarily on others. But Jesus addresses this question as well: "For everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded" (Luke 12:48b). We have all been given by God many wonderful gifts and talents. We are to use them well and wisely to make the most of what God has given us. Paul certainly had heard of Jesus' parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and realized his need not to hide but use fully what he had been given. He could, therefore, proudly claim as his ministry came to and end: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Timmy Noble also fought the good fight, using the gifts he was given, limited as they were. Yet, his efforts transformed one with greater talent and opportunity. He, like Paul, deserved a merited crown, and I am sure he found the same. If we have the courage to act and to use our gifts well and wisely, then the merited crown of God's eternal life will be ours as well. Let us, therefore, be pro-active, work hard, and see through our efforts a certain wisdom that only God can bring. Can we say and believe, "The difficult I'll do today and the impossible tomorrow"? Only you can answer!
____________
1.ÊSummary of: Og Mandino, The Twelfth Angel (New York: Fawcett Crest, 1993).
With such a record it was not a big surprise when Millennium, the third largest software manufacturer in the world, asked Harding to be its chief executive officer. John jumped at the offer. Not only was it a great position, but it would allow him to return to his native New England. He settled in his home town of Boland, New Hampshire, only twenty miles or so from Concord, the world headquarters for Millennium.
Everything seemed to be going well for John. The town welcomed a favorite son; the company liked their new boss. Then in the twinkling of an eye everything changed for John Harding. Sally and Rick were riding in the family car. A drunk driver crossed the centerline and an instant later they were both gone. John Harding had the all the gifts for success, but when tragedy struck, he did not know how to use them. He was a man who placed all his trust in his own ability; he never had to rely on others. Now, however, in grief and shock, he crawled into a shell of mourning and refused to come out.
After a couple of months, an old friend, Bill West, came to John to see if he could pull him from his state of grief. He knew that John liked baseball; maybe he would consider being the manager of one of Boland's four summer little league teams. Harding tried to run away, but Bill West was persistent and so John agreed. His team was the Angels.
It was at this time that John Harding met little Timmy Noble. Timmy, a member of the Angels, was eight years old and a tow-head just like his son Rick. Unlike his son, however, Timmy was not a good player; he did not have the gifts for baseball. He did not possess the keen eye to be a good hitter and he did not have the strong arm needed to be a good fielder. But Timmy Noble had some very important qualities, nonetheless. He had courage and a big heart -- how can one measure such qualities? He had determination and, most especially, Timmy Noble had faith in God. He didn't worry about what he couldn't do; he was grateful for what he had. He had decided a long time ago to place his trust in God.
The Angels did well that year; in fact they won the league championship. Timmy Noble was not one of the stars; he just was not gifted as a baseball player. But there was something wrong, something radically wrong. Timmy Noble was very sick. He never told anyone; he never complained. He came to every practice and played in each game, even though he had to ride his bike five miles each way to the field. When the season was over and it was revealed that Timmy Noble had terminal cancer, John Harding knew the reason that God had led him to manage the Angels. John had the perfect gifts for personal success, but Timmy Noble used his gifts for the benefit of others.1
Timmy Noble was not blessed with natural talent as a baseball player, but he had great gifts nonetheless and used them to their maximum. His seemingly limited gifts were actually abundant for he used them to convert John Harding from his personal misery and sadness into a man who was able to care for others. This is precisely what Saint Paul tells the Ephesians in today's Second Reading from scripture.
The religious world of Saint Paul was characterized by a minority status. The vast majority of the people with whom Paul had contact were pagans; monotheism as practiced by the Jews was a unique concept in religion and was not popular. When Paul was converted on the road to Damascus his religious purview became even more narrow as he became part of the Judeo-Christian community, a small sect that found itself alienated not only from the polytheism of the pagans but increasingly also from the Jewish community in which he was firmly rooted as a Pharisee. Paul's mission to the Gentiles thus had a certain sense of urgency. Not only was he surrounded by those who opposed his views, but additionally and probably more fundamentally Paul firmly believed that Christ's promised return to claim the world, the Parousia, was imminent. This belief was certainly a major factor in Paul's teaching on marriage and vocation. Convinced that Jesus would soon return, Paul thought it wise to suggest to the Corinthians: "In whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters, there remain with God" (1 Corinthians 7:24).
Paul also dealt with this issue with the Thessalonians. Here, the question was whether those who died before the Lord's return would inherit the promise of eternal life. Paul answered, "For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have died" (1 Thessalonians 4:15). Thus, for Paul procrastination in the Christian life was not an option. Those who chose the "new way" needed to get going and waste no time. They were to be active about the business of the Lord. Paul realized that Jesus came to inaugurate the kingdom of God, but it would be the task of his followers to do their share to complete the work and make God's reign a reality.
Thus, as we heard this morning, Paul writes to the Ephesians with a message of urgency in the right and proper use of the gifts we have been given. First, Paul tells the people to live as wise people and make the most of every day, for the days are evil. This was certainly good advice, but in the environment of the pagan city of Ephesus and with the understanding that the days were short, such a warning was essential. Paul was telling the people that Christians had a special vocation to fully and rightly use each and every day. Each day brought many opportunities to give praise and glory to God, occasions to continue the construction of God's kingdom in this world. The apostle understood human nature well and the tendency we have to procrastinate, to let things go, the attitude that we will always have tomorrow. Paul was most probably aware of Jesus' teaching on the coming kingdom (Luke 17:20-37) and the need for vigilance. Jesus was very clear, "Beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come" (Mark 13:33). Paul himself warned the Thessalonians: "For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!" (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3). Time was of the essence; it should not be wasted.
Next, Paul tells the people not to be foolish, suggesting that they seek God's will. Again, Paul understood that people often wish to "go it alone" and not be tuned into God. He tells the Ephesians they must do their best to know God's will in their lives. The apostle goes on to say this can best be accomplished by not wasting time with foolish things, such as with excessive drinking, but to be filled with the Holy Spirit. He suggests using time to praise God and most especially to thank the Lord for all he has done. Paul understood that prayers of contrition and petition were important, but also prayers of praise and thanksgiving were necessary for all of the Lord's many and manifest blessings.
Paul's teaching tells us there is a need to strike a balance in our lives in using our time and gifts wisely. Two polar extremes exist in our world that make this balance hard to achieve. One pole is associated with those the world labels "workaholics." The popularity of this expression is certainly associated with the old adage, "All work and no play makes a dull Jane or John." This statement forces us to consider the need to balance the demands of contemporary life with some personal time, spent alone, with God, or in recreation with family and friends.
The other end of the spectrum is less addressed and thus, as Saint Paul suggests, some significant reflection upon the human tendencies toward procrastination and laziness is needed. One might label the procrastinator's creed as: "Leave until tomorrow what can be done today." As excessive work, the "workaholic" mentality can lead the wrong way, so too can an attitude of continually letting things go. We need to strike a balance, a lesson that John Harding only learned "through the back door."
There are several ways we can challenge ourselves and others to address the important questions Paul raises in today's lesson. He suggests the need for diligence concerning the things we do. Last week we heard Paul's recipe for eternal life; now we must sincerely and forcefully do what is necessary to put all these ingredients together; it will not happen without a high level of effort on our part. All the ingredients for the pie may be present, but until the baker diligently applies her skills there will be no result; no one will reap the benefits of the gifts, talents, and opportunities given by God.
There are many reasons why we are less diligent than possibly we should be and few, I suppose, have much to do with genuine laziness. We may feel inadequate to the task, perceiving that our God-given skills are not sufficient to successfully complete the job. There are occasions as well when the time we have, considering our ever-increasing list of responsibilities, or lack of opportunity to engage a particular task, is insufficient. As important as a task may be and as much as we might want to help, we cannot respond to all possibilities. All people need "down time"; we must choose among the myriad of tasks and opportunities that come our way.
We must admit, however, that inside each of us lies a sense of complacency. We should listen to the Prophet Amos concerning such laziness: "Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall; who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David improvise on instruments of music; who drink wine from bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile, and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away" (Amos 6:4-7). We all have a tendency to concentrate first on our own needs and then secondarily on others. But Jesus addresses this question as well: "For everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded" (Luke 12:48b). We have all been given by God many wonderful gifts and talents. We are to use them well and wisely to make the most of what God has given us. Paul certainly had heard of Jesus' parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and realized his need not to hide but use fully what he had been given. He could, therefore, proudly claim as his ministry came to and end: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Timmy Noble also fought the good fight, using the gifts he was given, limited as they were. Yet, his efforts transformed one with greater talent and opportunity. He, like Paul, deserved a merited crown, and I am sure he found the same. If we have the courage to act and to use our gifts well and wisely, then the merited crown of God's eternal life will be ours as well. Let us, therefore, be pro-active, work hard, and see through our efforts a certain wisdom that only God can bring. Can we say and believe, "The difficult I'll do today and the impossible tomorrow"? Only you can answer!
____________
1.ÊSummary of: Og Mandino, The Twelfth Angel (New York: Fawcett Crest, 1993).
