Proper 21 C, September 25, 2016

Today I want to start with a famous picture—one you probably all recognize.
It’s a picture of the Earth—taken from space.
It’s called “The Blue Marble”—for obvious reasons.

 
The original version of this picture was taken by astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins—during the Apollo 11 Moon Mission in July, 1969.
On their way to the Moon—the three astronauts were struck by the sight of the Earth from their spaceship.
They said it looked like a “beautiful blue marble—an island of light and life—floating in the midst of a sea of darkness.”
 
When the photo was published—it grabbed the attention of the entire world.
It was the first time human beings had seen their home planet—from a “God’s-eye” point of view.
It brought home in a powerful way the fact that we really are inhabitants of one world.
 
It also brought home the realization that the Earth is not as large as we once thought.
It’s only a tiny planet in a vast universe.
The Earth is not “infinite”—as we once thought—but limited.
And it has limited resources.
 
When our Book of Common Prayer was revised in 1979—this new perspective inspired a poetic phrase that found its way into Eucharistic Prayer C:
“This fragile Earth—our island home.”
We now understand—in a way that we never could before—that God has indeed blessed us with the Earth’s resources—but that those resources are not inexhaustible.
 
For Christians—this picture brings to mind any number of different scriptures.
The first one I think of is Genesis 1:31:
“And God saw everything he had made—and behold, it was very good.”
The Earth and its resources are a gift from God.
And what God has given us is “very good.”
As today’s Epistle reading from First Timothy says:
“God has richly provided us with everything good for our enjoyment.”
 
Another scripture evoked by this picture is Genesis 1:1—the first verse of the Bible:
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth.”
That verse defines once and for all our relationship to the world around us:
The Earth is God’s creation—and it belongs to God!
 
All that we have—and all that we are—is a gift from God.
It all comes from God—and someday it will all return to God.
We are not the “owners.”
We are merely “stewards”--caretakers of God’s bounty.
For a brief period—we are entrusted with the gift of time, energy, and resources.
What we do with them will ultimately determine our character—and our destiny.
 
That brings us to today’s Gospel reading.
This reading is part of an entire section of Luke that is dedicated to Jesus’ teachings about money and material possessions.
In today’s reading, Jesus tells a parable about a “rich man”—who wore fine clothing—and dined on fine food every day.
Just outside the rich man’s door—lived a “poor beggar” named Lazarus.
In stark contrast to the rich man—Lazarus had nothing.
He dressed in rags—and was covered with sores.
His only hope was to get some left-overs from the rich man’s table.
 
The two men eventually die--and their fortunes are reversed!
The beggar finds comfort in Paradise—in the company of the Old Testament Patriarch Abraham.
But the rich man is tormented—in the flames of Hades.
Ironically—it is now the rich man’s turn to beg.
He begs that Lazarus be sent to cool his tongue with a drop of water.
But this cannot happen.
Just as—on Earth—the rich man ignored the beggar’s plea for help—so now, his own plea for help will be ignored.
The rich man’s failure to act with basic human compassion has sealed his own fate!
 
This parable is one of Jesus’ most pointed stories—and the point he was making is clear:
As “stewards” of God’s bounty—we are expected to use God’s resources wisely and compassionately—not only to meet our own needs—but the needs of God’s world—and God’s people.
The rich man in the parable chose to use his resources only for himself—even though he was blessed with wealth.
He didn’t even help a starving beggar—who lived right outside his door.
 
Going back to today’s Epistle reading from First Timothy—St. Paul gives clear instructions to those who are blessed with worldly wealth.
First of all—he reminds us that “we brought nothing into this world—and we can take nothing out of it.”
What part of “You can’t take it with you” do we still not understand?!
 
Paul goes on to say that we should all be “content” if we have food and clothing.
“But those who want to be rich will fall into temptation”—and ultimately into spiritual “ruin and destruction.”
“For the love of money is the root of all evil.”
Men and women of God must “shun” entanglement with wealth and worldly possessions—and instead—“pursue righteousness, godliness, faith and love.”
 
Finally—Paul commands the wealthy to be “rich in good works—generous, and ready to share.”
They are not to trust in riches—“but in God, the Giver of all good things.”
In this way they will build up for themselves “a good foundation” for the future—so that they may “take hold” of Eternal Life.
 
Since those instructions are addressed to the “wealthy”—we may not think they apply to us.
But they do!
We may not think of ourselves as “rich.”
But we are!
Every one of us is rich.
We have all been blessed in countless ways by God’s bounty.
We have each been given an abundance of time, energy, and resources—to use as God’s Stewards—not just for our own enjoyment and good—but for the good of God’s world—and God’s people.
 
Let me close with a story.
 
Three persons happened to die—and arrived at the Pearly Gates at the same time.
St. Peter asked them what they had done on Earth to show that they were worthy of Heaven.
 
The first was a wealthy businessman.
He began to list his accomplishments as CEO of his own company—leader of many civic organizations—and member of many social clubs.
St. Peter quickly cut him off—and sent him packing.
 
The second was a highly educated woman.
She began to explain how she had advanced herself academically—becoming a Department Head at a prestigious university—a respected consultant—and an acclaimed author.
St. Peter turned her away as well.
 
The third was a man of no particular distinction or accomplishment.
“I don’t know,” he said hesitantly.
“I’ve never had very much—or done very much.
“But there were my birds.
“I loved my beautiful wild birds.
“I fed them every day—all winter long.
“I made sure they had plenty of food—and fresh water—all the time.”
To his surprise—the Pearly Gates swung wide open—and he heard a Voice say:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.
“Enter into the joy of your Lord.
“For I was hungry—and you fed me.
“I was thirsty—and you gave me water to drink.”
 
Now don’t take my story too literally.
There is more to “good stewardship” than feeding the birds.
But it’s a start!
 
God loves his entire Creation—including this “beautiful blue marble floating in a sea of darkness.”
God loves everything he has made—even the “birds of the air.”
But God is most concerned for the poor—those who have no resources of their own--those who live right outside our door.
Here is what we need to understand today:
 
The Earth is God’s creation—and it belongs to God!
All that we have—and all that we are—is a gift from God.
It all comes from God—and someday it will all return to God.
We are not the “owners.”
We are merely “stewards”--caretakers of God’s bounty.
For a brief period—we are entrusted with the gift of time, energy and resources.
 
What we do with them will ultimately determine our character—and our eternal destiny!
 
Now let us pray.
(BCP p. 827, “For the Right Use of God’s Gifts.”)

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