Rector's Sermon - Sunday, November 17, 2002

First Reading	Psalm	Epistle	Gospel
Judges 4:1-7	123	1 Thessalonians 5:1-11	Matthew 25:14-30

     I've told a similar story before, only because it happens every year about this time. He was undoubtedly an eccentric, but tales of his generosity were also well known. One Saturday afternoon, he walked three houses down and called to a eleven year old boy who had just moved from Texas. "Here is a present for you, son. You've never used one of these before, but I can tell you will be a quick learner." With that he handed the lad a new huge snow shovel, and a pair of lined work gloves. The boy could hardly get out a startled thank you before the old man yelled over his shoulder, "I'm off to Florida, see you in the spring."

     Over on the next street, another neighbor was repairing his truck. He didn't know what to say either when the old guy backed up in his drive way and called for him to give him a hand with a large crate. "Here I have something for you, an early Christmas present." Pushing the crate onto the ground, the old man announced, "I knew that you needed a new plow. I had ordered this one for myself, but since I'm going south this winter, I thought you could use it." Then he waved good-bye and drove off, saying, "Make sure to check your hydraulic fluid."

     On his third visit that day he dropped off the latest model of a John Deer two stage snow blower to a friend of a friend whom, he had been told, was looking for some extra work. "You don't know me, but I'm a friend of Jack's. I'm going south this winter, and I wanted to loan this to you because I sure won't need it. It's all ready to go. I'll come back to see you in April!"

     It was an especially snowy winter in Buffalo that year. The boy who had moved from Texas and never had seen snow picked up quite a bit of spending money. He also made some new friends as he helped out people by clearing their walks and driveways. However, he never accepted any money from his next door neighbor because the neighbor had arthritis and great difficulty walking. They became special pals and by the end of winter the boy didn't miss Texas all that much.

     The man who had been given the plow was always in demand and he helped many a stranded motorist by pushing their vehicles out of a drift or clearing the bottom of their driveways after the big country snowplows went through. One time he even got a pregnant woman and anxious husband to the hospital.

     The guy who who had received the two-stage snow blower reacted a bit differently. "Why would a friend of Jack's give me this?" he thought. "I know that around town this old guy has a reputation for generosity, but I wonder what's wrong with this machine. It sure looks like a real beauty," he noted. "Even has an electronic ignition and a CD player. That rich guy who gave it to me will be really angry if I chip off some of its paint or put a few dings in it. I'll just put it in my back shed. Anyway, if some of my neighbors see me using it, they will probably call on me to help them out and then I'll risk breaking a shear pin. You know the biggest snow always comes on Super Bowl Sunday. It would be just my luck if someone would come and ask me to leave my television set and get their car out of a parking place."

     The eccentric old man finally did return on a sunny spring day, driving a red Humvee. The young boy was already outside, mowing his lawn. "I really appreciated your super snow shovel" the boy said. "I used it to help a lot of people and earned quite a bit of money for college, too." "Well, done, my boy," said the old man. A few days later the man drove up to the house where he had dropped off the plow. The neighbor welcomed him back and added "You really missed out on a duzy of a winter. I used the plow more than I've ever used a plow before and I even made sure that the minister down the street got to church every Sunday on time." "Great!", said the old man." As he backed out of the drive he stuck his head back out and shouted, "Oh by the way, I got a great deal on snow tires that I think will fit your truck. I'll drop them off before I leave in the fall, because I'm sure with all the plowing you've done the tread on yours is about gone."

     A week later he met the guy who had been given the snow blower. "How did it go for you this winter?" he asked. "Oh, it was bad. I had a tough time finding work and keeping busy. But don't worry. Your snow blower is safe and sound. There's not a scratch on it. I knew you'd expect it back in perfect condition, so I didn't even start it up. No one even knew I had it, so no one asked to borrow it and I was never pestered."

     "You lazy fool!" exclaimed the eccentric. "I gave you a new snow blower filled with gas, all set to go and you never used it. It obviously will do no good just hidden in a back shed. I'll load it back on my truck immediately. He went back to the young boy who was given the snow shovel. "Here's something for next winter", he said as he unloaded the snow blower. "Now that you are mowing lawns, and learning how to change the oil and plugs on power mowers, you will be able to learn by next winter how to operate this baby. It's a two stage, self-propelled 40 horsepower beauty." "Oh, boy," said the lad. "Read the instructions first," yelled the eccentric as he drove off.

     Jesus and his disciples didn't live in Buffalo, but if they did, undoubtedly some of the disciples would have known how to bolt on a plow, change a belt on a snow blower, and have hands that smelled of gasoline. God gives us gifts and how we choose to recognize, accept, or use them, is up to us. The parable of the talents is a parable about judgment while at the same time saying something about stewardship. God is a giver and true gratitude never runs out. It will seem as if we are given a fresh supply each day. In one sense gratitude is like a muscle. The more we exercise muscles and practice gratitude, the healthier we become. However, those who are resentful, suspicious or envious of God's grace will all believe that they have enough. Gifts, where there is no gratitude, will always seem inadequate. Fear will whittle away even what they have. It doesn't matter whether it is talents or snow blowers.

     I offer you this in the name of the living God, and before the first real snow of the season. Amen.