Matthew25:1-13
TheKingdom Marathon
JamesSledge November6, 2011
Thenewscaster leads with a breaking local story. Jesus has announced plans to hold a “Kingdom of God Marathon.” It will be a huge event for the community,something everyone can get behind, and a fundraiser for causes to end hungerand homelessness.
Themayor and local celebrities were in attendance at the press conference whereJesus announced that the marathon was being planned for next year, exact dateyet to be determined. The pressconference featured lots of cheering and excitement. Everyone thought it was a wonderfulidea. And as Jesus worked the crowdfollowing the official announcement, people told him so. They pledged to help make it a big success,promising that they would run in it, publicize the event, or help set up aidstations along the route.
Inthe days following the announcement, sales at sporting goods storessurged. People were buying running shoesand other gear, books on how to train for a marathon, training calendars andsoftware programs, and just about anything connected to running. The number of people running on the roads,sidewalks, and local trails skyrocketed. Local running clubs were overwhelmed with new members, and lots of newtraining groups formed.
Butas days turned to weeks and weeks to months, the excitement and energywaned. Those running clubs and traininggroups dwindled in number, and the trails and sidewalks had far fewer runnerson them. Talk of the marathon faded aswell. It’s difficult to publicizesomething when the exact date isn’t known, and it all but disappeared frompublic view.
Thensuddenly it was back in the news. Jesusannounced that the first Kingdom of God Marathon would be held three weeks fromSaturday.
A flurry of activityensued. People dug out those runningshoes that had been gathering dust for months. But there simply is no way to get ready for a 26 mile run in threeweeks. Thebig day came and scores of runners gathered in the streets downtown. When Jesus sounded the air horn the runnerssurged forward. As the last of themcrossed the starting line, Jesus followed along in a golf cart.
Itwasn’t long before runners began to fall by the wayside. A mile or two was all some could manage. As they began walking or stopped and sat onthe curb, Jesus cruised by in his golf cart. “Jesus, we so wanted to be a part of your big race,” they said as hepassed. But Jesus just shrugged andsaid, “You should have stayed in shape.” And they watched as Jesus disappeared down the marathon course.
Afternearly five hours, the last of those who were actually running crossed thefinish line and went into a huge post-race celebration. There was live music, massages for sore legs,the best food and drink to recharge after such a strenuous event, and awardsand trophies for all. And the runnerswere soon feeling revived and having a wonderful time.
Asthe big post-race party went on, those who had tried to get ready in threeweeks trickled in to the finish line. Some couldn’t even walk the route and had found rides. They were disappointed at not being able tofinish, but they didn’t want to miss out on the post-race festivities. But they found the doors to the ConventionCenter where the party was going on locked tight. People went around the building, checking allthe entrances, but there was no getting in. Finally, after banging loudly on the doors, they got the attention ofsomeone inside who went and found Jesus and brought him to the door.
“Jesus,let us into the party. We were in therace. See, we have our race numbers. We paid our registration and everything.”
ButJesus simply said, “This a only for those who ran the race; not for those whoentered.” And he turned and walked backto the party as security re-locked the door.
Nowdon’t take this story too seriously, certainly not literally. After all, it’s a story, a parable if youwill. I has rather obvious similaritiesto the parable Jesus tells in today’s gospel reading, but I felt moved to tellmy version because I think the Church has often encouraged us to misunderstandthe one Jesus tells. When Jesus beginshis parable he makes clear what the parable is about. “The kingdom of heaven will be likethis.” As I’ve mentioned manytimes, this kingdom is not a synonym for heaven. It is called the “kingdom of God” in thegospels of Luke and Mark, and it refers to a new day that God will bring, to aredeemed and transformed would where God’s will is done here on earth just asit is in heaven, as the prayer Jesus teaches us says.
Butsomehow, Christianity seemed to forget this over the centuries. This kingdom that will change the world hasbeen privatized and made a matter of personal piety. I’ve even heard this parable preached as apressing reason for accepting Jesus as your Savior now rather than later. “Yes, it’s true that a deathbed confessionwill get you into heaven,” the argument goes. “But you never know. Things couldhappen so quickly that you wouldn’t have time. Then you would be like those bridesmaids with no oil for their lamps.”
Isuppose this could be true, but I’m pretty sure it’s not what Jesus is talkingabout. Rather, this is a parable forbelievers, for insiders. Jesus istalking about living a life that is oriented to God’s coming kingdom. The wise bridesmaids are ready to participatein that kingdom. They have preparedthemselves so that they do not have to change what they are doing, do not haveto make adjustments in order to be part of the banquet, the kingdom.
It’ssomething Jesus speaks of often. He saysthe same thing in his Sermon on the Mount. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom ofheaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Jesus is not talking about whether ornot we believe in him, but whether or not we follow him, though I suppose notfollowing him does seem to indicate thatwe don’t believe what he tells us to do.
Iread this recently on someone’s Facebook page. “A recent Gallup poll says that 81% of Americans are dissatisfied with howthe country is being governed; 57% have little or no confidence the federalgovernment can solve the nation's problems. So in 2012, will we still re-elect90+% of the incumbents as we normally seem to do?”
Aninteresting question. I would not besurprised if we do. We may bedissatisfied, but we’re not sure what new thing will help. We want something better, but we’re notreally clear what that is or how to get it. And so we stick with what we know.
We arecreatures of habit, and those habits define us. “We are,” as Aristotle said long ago, “what we repeatedly do.” But Jesus calls us to new habits, transformedlives that are conformed to the habits of God’s new day, that new world hecalls the Kingdom. But it is so different. It sounds too hard, like getting ready for amarathon. And so as much as we likeJesus, we struggle when it comes to actually getting up and following him onthis new way he shows us. We “believe,”but we’re less certain about the habits of disciples.
ButJesus insists that the way he shows us is not too hard, that his yoke is easyand his burden is light. He promisesthat the Spirit will more than equip us for the journey ahead.
Butit is so easy just to stay where we are, and keep doing what we are doing,isn’t it?
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