Letting Go
Luke 16:1-13 (with Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 in the b.g.)
Pentecost 17c, September 19, 2010
Truly focusing here on Luke 16:1-9 (the parable itself is really verses 1-8 with a comment from "Jesus" in verse 9). There are so many interpretations of this text all claiming some degree of validity. Therefore I need to be careful and have some humility!
It used to be, that in polite company it was assumed that one didn't speak about money, politics or sex – at least in North American culture. Unfortunately the church allowed itself sometimes to be more cultural in relating to such realities than actively seeking to follow Jesus. More recently we have begun to talk a bit about sexuality – not because we have wanted to, but I suspect once again because the culture has forced us to. And since I am convinced that God often works through the culture and through the history, this is certainly not all bad – or even always negative. Unfortunately we haven't always spoken with each other about sexuality in respectful or even informed ways.
I am wondering if you know that for every time Jesus speaks about sexuality in any way there are at least 10 other times that he speaks either about money and or greed? Isn't it interesting that we seem to talk more about sexuality than we do about money in the church? Have you ever wondered why this is so?
If we take today's Gospel lesson seriously there can't be any escaping talking about MONEY AND FAITH. Or to put it another way, if we are to follow Jesus, to actually serve him as the Son of God, to encounter him in some way as the early Christians did in referring to him as "Lord", then we must also honestly wrestle with, how shall we spend and use the money that we have been entrusted with? And how then shall we treat others who respond to us in certain ways with their use of money?
To do this, let's firstly examine the Gospel lesson. I want to shrink the number of verses we are considering. So, let's look at the first 8 verses again. (I read them aloud). Do we have any idea what they are about? (listen for responses)
It's important to remember that the historical setting of this particular Gospel pericope is Jesus' own time. His society was a society based on the principle of honor/shame. This isn't exactly the same as the capitalist society of our North American culture. In our Gospel there is an accountant or a manager who is to watch over and manage significant holdings. But he has been less than honest (and perhaps diligent) in handling the owner's investments. Now this manager "handled" the accounts of tenant farmers in which very likely exorbitant interest rates were charged. Not only that, but much if not everything that the tenants needed had to be purchased through the owner's outlet.
However word has leaked out that the manager has been pocketing more than his share of the owner's income. Now the gig is up. The owner is justifiably angry. He is about to give the pink slip to the manager.
So, this manager is up against it. Not only will he lose his job. He may not be able to get another job. In an honor shame society there isn't be a market for dishonest managers. Once dismissed the manager will not be taken care of by the owner. Nor does the manager have any friends among the tenants. Long ago he sold out to a system that charged them exorbitant interest, which ensured at best they would barely be able to survive. So, what can he do? What will he do?
Now the desperate manager acts quickly and decisively. He calls in those tenant debtors. With his master's money, the manager forgives those tenant farmers significant portions of their debt. Now they see him in a different light. Now even if he loses his job, perhaps some of them will welcome him. To be sure, his actions have occurred at his owner's expense. But there is also a positive outcome for the owner. The tenants who had once despised him because of his position in such an unjust system, now think he is the most beneficent, the kindest, maybe even an honorable person. He has forgiven them a portion of their debts.
The owner now makes his visit to fire the manager. But instead of his tenants turning their backs on him or at the most offering him official courtesies, now the people are cheering, waving, smiling, crying, showing him their babies, offering him heart-felt THANK YOU'S.
He may have initially wondered, what is this all about? He is not accustomed to being genuinely welcomed by tenants. But soon enough he discovers what his manager has been up to. Now the owner is faced with a choice. He can fire the manager who has defrauded him and thereby incur the disdain and total exclusion of all the peasant workers. Or, he can keep the manager on, surely with more supervision and more checks and balances while continuing to experience a new life for himself and those tenants.
In Jesus' story the owner chooses the latter course. He doesn't bless what the manager has done in defrauding him. But he does admit that the manager has acted prudently. Since such prudence has brought new life to tenants, and to himself, the manager himself is extended new life.
So let me ask you a question. In truth, was any of the land actually either the manager's or the owner's? Now there's a question for all of us. Upon our death, or radical change of government, or the world's economic situation being turned upside down, whose will any of that which we now "have", "belong" to?
Don't we all play, live with the owner's goods? "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof!" At least that's what the Psalmist declares.
The one prayer that Jesus has taught his followers, has deeply embedded in itself a request addressed to God: "Forgive us our trespasses/sins/debts. God takes action to do that, to grant us forgiveness and new life through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We need to know this. Now, our trespasses, our sins are not only the occasional cuss word, or even the uncharitable thoughts or feelings we have towards someone else. No! Our trespasses, our sins are much more than that. Our sin includes being selfish, living off the backs of people in the third world, without ever losing any sleep over it, or even ever desiring to change that. We like (LOVE) our creature comforts achieved off the backs of others. Our sin also includes the reality that sometimes we do hate. Too often we just don't care on any level about others, even though God in Christ calls us to love others. Yet we dare to ask for forgiveness.
To add to our debt, we seem totally unable to forget and to forgive if anyone else should cheat us out of any amount of money. Then, we hold onto such a grudge while seeking redress.
Don't get me wrong. I am not blessing or even excusing cheating, stealing or the imposition of exorbitant interest rates on any one or any nation. But as I have mentioned, we are far from guiltless in benefiting from a system that elevates the privileged few over the many.
Can we, can others experience new life with each other and with God? Can we actually live differently willingly letting go of our fears and our stuff? Everything about Jesus' life and death says, "Yes"! And what then?
If we experience forgiveness for ourselves and new life, new beginnings with God and with others, will we still obsessively cling to "our" money, to the old grudges, to the false myth that we are somehow"better than" or at least more "deserving" than others?
Or, will we in the light of Christ's love and concern for all, in the cleansing life-bringing waters of daily baptism, experience and live with others in a new light? Will we be enabled to let go and let God? Might God have the power to lead us to be wise and discerning in all things, including our use of money so that new life might flow even through us to and for others?
I do wonder. Jesus' life, death and resurrection point to such realities.
Dear Lord forgive us our debts even as we forgive those who sin against us. Amen.