Sermon for the 2nd Sunday before Advent: Judgement and the Parable of the Talents – preached at the Eucharist, Sherborne Abbey, on Sunday, 19 November 2023 by Canon Charles Mitchell-Innes. (1 Thessalonians Ch 5: v 1 – 11; Matthew Ch 25: v 14 – 30)
“The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”
(1 Thessalonians Ch 5: v 2)
Just when you thought you had a couple of Sundays to relax before the rigours of Advent begin, here is St Paul reminding us (well, actually the Thessalonian Christians) that we cannot afford to drop our guard, but to “keep awake and be sober” (v 6). Advent is a weighty and solemn season, in which – as Hugh Bonsey reminds us in his Thought for the Day in this week’s Pewsheet – “we wait for the coming of the Lord: a time which is so important, but so often overlooked.” The rest of the world may be counting shopping days till Christmas, but we are looking forward in more muted though eager expectation to the coming into the world of the Christ-child. It is a time of profound hope; but no tinsel, for the Church looks too to Christ’s second coming, in judgement. And that is what both our Epistle and our Gospel today are about.
You may think that the Parable of the Talents is a call to use our natural gifts and abilities wisely, and to nurture them. Certainly that is important for us as we try to lead a Christian life; but it is not the primary message of Jesus’ parable. It may be significant that the master of the servants who are given the talents is portrayed as “a hard man, reaping where [he] did not sow,” and returning to judge his servants’ financial conduct strictly, if fairly. It is typical of rabbinic humour to portray the Almighty as a hard-nosed capitalist, coming back to “settle accounts” with his minions (v 19). But behind the humour lies the Advent themes of repentance and reconciliation; judgement as well as redemption.
It was not until the 17th century that the word ‘talent’ became widely used in English to mean ability or skill, rather than a large sum of money, but that sense, almost universal now, grew naturally out of this parable. So we should look at that spin-off explanation too, as it is the more common.
Talent-spotting is useful for those selecting sports teams, those conducting interview boards, and drama and music critics, among others, but it is not fool-proof, and can backfire later, on selectors and critics. There is a well-known story – not authenticated, it has to be said – that when Fred Astaire was moving into films after a successful Broadway career, a studio report on this supremo of dance and musicals read, “Can’t act, can’t sing. Balding. Can dance a little.” Closer to home we have Alan Turing’s reports from Sherborne School when he was 14. The future mathematical and computer genius and code-breaker in WW2, received pretty uninspired reports, such as “His Latin work is for the most part careless and slovenly;” “Idle” (in French); and, even in Maths, “not very good: he spends a good deal of his time apparently in investigations in advanced mathematics to the neglect of his elementary work.” His scientific reports, you will be pleased to hear, were more complimentary. So there is hope for us all!
Perhaps the message is that not all of us can develop talents in a broad range of skills; but those that we have – as gifts from God – should be carefully, and gratefully, nurtured. Nor do they have to fall into neat categories. There is a whole spectrum of social skills which underlie our humanity – gifts of compassion, generosity of spirit, reconciliation and of resolving discord. Blessed indeed are the peacemakers, “for they shall be called children of God.” I think this is what Hilaire Belloc had in mind when he wrote of ‘Courtesy’:
“Of courtesy, it is much less
Than courage of Heart or Holiness;
Yet in my walks it seems to me
That the Grace of God is in courtesy.”
I bring to mind a friend, an ex-pupil, who had several non-talents, such as writing and arithmetic, foreign languages and doing up shoelaces. Yet his lively and enquiring mind embraced history, philosophy, a great appreciation of art, especially religious art, and political awareness. These were the positive talents he centred on at school, and he gained his degree at Cambridge before he was 18. He became a parish priest after a curacy, and is currently a religious and political journalist of considerable insight.
So, as we wait for the first coming of our Lord, when, in Rowan Williams’ words, “He will come like child”, the Parable of the Talents speaks to us about the second coming, which may be delayed, but will come. “Those who wish to share its blessings must use the time wisely in serving God. Gifts unused are lost.” (A W Argyle) One should add also “in serving others”.
Advent is a time for re-ordering our lives to face outwards to others and upwards to God. Christina Rossetti wonderfully captures the exhilaration:
“Behold, the Bridegroom cometh: go we out
With lamps ablaze and garlands round about
To meet Him in a rapture with a shout.” (Advent Sunday)
“For”, as St Paul writes, “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him.” (1 Thessalonians Ch 5: v 9 – 10)