Young Purses
Isaiah 1:1,10-20; Luke 12:32-40

August 12, 2001


The legend of the apostle Thomas tells the story of what happened to Thomas after the resurrection of Jesus.

It seems that the apostles drew lots that assigned them to various parts of the then known world. Thomas drew India and refused to take the assignment. So the other apostles kidnapped Thomas and sold him as a slave to a man who had come to Jerusalem in search of carpenters.

These carpenters were to build a new castle for King Gundaphorus in India. Thomas, the apostles assured this man, could organize, direct, and build the castle for the King.

Upon arrival in India Thomas was given money by Gundaphorus to hire workmen and to build a new palace. But Thomas gave the money to the poor, always assuring the king that his palace was rising steadily.

The king became suspicious when Thomas kept putting off his requests to see the work in progress and finally sent for Thomas.

"Have you built my Palace?" the King asked."Yes", replied Thomas. "Then we shall go and see it now," said the King.

Thomas answered, "You can not see it now, but when you depart this life you shall see it. I have built you a palace in heaven by giving your money to the poor and needs of your kingdom."

Somehow Thomas survived intact through this version of the emperor's new clothes, and eventually Gundaphorus became a Christian, along with many others. And even today the Mar Thoma Church exists in the province of Kerala, India.

Isaiah was not complimentary when he proclaimed God's word to the "solemn assembly" gathered for worship. Solemnity has always had that edge of calculated propriety, a practiced piety without the authentic quality of holiness. Mainline Protestantism has been labeled a tradition of solemn assemblies and we have to work hard to shed that label.

This means among other things that nothing must be done by rote, that every part of our faith, every traditional action, must be subjected to fresh examination. Only by recognizing how different the Biblical word is can we take advantage of it.

There are lots of difficult assignments in the Gospels. Jesus summons us to a life-style which is not performed by rote, but demands all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength at every step. Therefore, I believe that these two words about always being ready and not wasting oneself on things which do not last are perhaps the most humanly difficult tasks for us to achieve. To be dressed for action and eternally ready is to breathe for a moment the breath of God.

Jesus urges us to be "dressed for action" and to have our lamps lit. Both of these commands refer to other parables which emphasize the critical importance of preparation and continual alertness. The wedding guest who once admitted to the feast was found not properly dressed ended up being thrown out of the festivities. The foolish maidens also were waiting for the wedding feast to begin, but had allowed their flashlights' batteries to run down, and they too missed out.

Every time one reads about a wedding feast or a banquet in the Gospels it is referring to the arrival of the Kingdom of God. So by not being adequately dressed for action, by not having proper light to see, they missed out on being in the presence of God. A godless universe is an empty universe, and one with little hope. Just ask those who were eternally "waiting for Godot" in Samuel Beckett's play.

Have you been to a wedding recently? Some people come dressed fit to kill, to use an old idiom. But increasingly one sees a number of people who do not have a clue about how to dress up (it's even worse with funerals). They put on their best T-shirt and jeans and usually complain how they did not feel comfortable or even welcome at the event. They do not expect anything special to happen and so insist upon dressing as they do for everyday life. It is little wonder that they do not notice that anything special happens.

The master returns home unannounced from attending a wedding banquet. Lo and behold, his servants are right there to open the door for him. They had waited patiently for him, and they had lived in expectation of his arrival, listening for every footstep.

Surprised by joy, he does something surprising in return. He takes off his fancy wedding clothes and puts on his grubby work clothes and gets down to serve his servants a banquet. People hearing Jesus tell this parable would have been shocked. It would be like Queen Elizabeth coming back to Government House after a royal tea and serving lunch to all the guides and kitchen staff.

Elsewhere in the Gospels, this commandment to be watchful, to keep alert, is foreboding and threatening, even terrifying. It is given in the midst of an apocalyptic warning, the end of the world is nigh. If you knew the thief was coming in the middle of the night you would have been ready - but you weren't alert and now the thief has taken away everything you own.

Right here, the commandment to be watchful is thrown upside down. Instead of fear-inspired "Watch!", you are encouraged to stay on your toes and be on the lookout for a party, a celebration, a banquet. You don't want to miss out on all the fun and food. That's what it means to have a master who is a servant.

So instead of all the fear of failure and judgment with which you are typically weighed down, now through Jesus you know that it will end not in judgment, but a party. Watch out continually for the signs of a party!

Sell your possessions and give to the poor, that's how you can really party. A party, after all, is when you give away your money and possessions so that others may share in your joy. Purses only become old and worn out when they keep money in them too long. Keep your purse young and empty and you will have treasure which cannot decay or be lost.

About 15 years ago in the United States, a very successful business person was invited to give a graduation address to a group of 61 sixth-graders. Yes, graduation from Grade 6!

This was not your average elementary school though. This school was located in a very poor part of the New York City, and only 10% of their graduates ever completed high school and very few had ever gone on to university or college.

As this business executive began to work on the commencement address, he thought of saying the customary things: Such as: "Work hard, keep your nose to the grindstone and your shoulder to the wheel and - with a bit of luck - you can make it just as I did."

"Everything considered, these would be empty words", the man thought; "hollow words." These kids had little reason to hope for the future, and even less reason to try to beat the overwhelming odds stacked against them. The man felt that something radically different was called for, if he was going to make an impact on them.

He knew they needed something special, so instead of a graduation address, he simply made an announcement to the students. To each and every one of the 61 girls and boys he made a promise (and he had the money to back it up); he said, "I will pay for your college or university education. Completely. No strings attached. I've just established a fund and I've made an initial deposit of $2000 for each one of you." He promised that he would add to this amount each year so that there would be enough to fund the college education of all 61 children.

Six years later, the students were in the twelfth grade, all 61 of them! Not one had dropped out. Three had moved away, but they remained in touch with their benefactor and he assured them that the promise continued to hold for them as well. In addition to this amazing accomplishment all the students had higher grades than their predecessors. Some of the students were even awarded academic scholarships. Many of them accepted their benefactor's invitation to drop in and see him from time to time. Among other things, they discussed their choice of schools and careers, and of course, he encouraged them at every opportunity. An astounding 58 of those 61 students ended up attending university or college!

They succeeded because someone had made it clear to them that he was prepared to commit something to them; something that really made a difference. It did not remove responsibility from them, rather, it encouraged them to take full responsibility for their lives and their futures.

Where was this man's treasure? He certainly had financial means, but his purse was kept continually young. His heart and his treasure had taken on the flesh of the hearts and hopes of these 61 young people and that treasure will never wear out or be destroyed.

Preached by Robert Kitchen
Knox-Metropolitan United Church
Regina, Saskatchewan