Clean Hearts, Dirty Hands: A Sermon for September 30, 2007 - Proper 21C, Ordinary 26C, and Pentecost 18C

I have just posted my Sunday Sermon in its entirety on my blog Proclamation.  Below is an excerpt.  The passages that form the foundation for this sermon are: Amos 6:1a, 4-7; 1 Timothy 6:11-19, Luke 16:1-8, and Luke 16:19-31.

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This morning I want to both revisit last week’s gospel reading and tie it to the gospel reading for today.
I want to do this for two reasons.
First, it is always good, whenever possible, to look at scripture passages within their larger context.
Too often, we only look at the scripture at hand without reference to where it is found in the text.
As the saying goes, context is everything.
Second, if you remember from last week,
I tied the parable of the “unjust” steward, as it is commonly called,
to the idea of forgiveness.
But there is almost always more than one way to interpret Jesus’ parables and teaching,
and today’s sermon is an opportunity for us to examine the passage from last week from a different perspective.
So, let’s take one more look at this parable for a few minutes.

As I mentioned last week,
the first scripture lesson from Luke (Luke 16:1-8) is rather strange,
and it is especially disconcerting to hear Jesus tell it.
It seems as though Jesus is commending the dishonest actions of a businessman.
You remember the story, I am sure,
but let’s hear it again from a more contemporary perspective.

The notice came in the morning.
Word had leaked out that he had not done too well in the managing of his employer’s assets,
and now he had to turn over his books.
Naturally, he had experienced a few minutes of sheer panic.
His double-dealing would be discovered,
he had no doubt about that.
He was sure to be fired,
and a lawsuit would probably ensue as well.
And then what would he do?
As the passage says,
he wasn’t strong enough to do manual labor - like digging ditches,
and he was too proud to beg.

Suddenly, it came to him.
If he was going to be fired,
friends and allies would be essential.
He needed some protection, some insurance.
So the manager called in all the people who owed his boss money and told them to sit down.

(To continue reading this sermon, just click here.)

[techtags: Clean Hearts, Dirty Hands. Sermon, Proper 21C, Ordinary 26C, Pentecost 18C Amos 6:1-7, 1 Timothy 6:11-19, Luke 16:1-8, Luke 16:19-31. the unjust steward, Lazarus, Dives, the rich man, Albert Schweitzer, Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, Scrooge. Marley]