Just in Time
The sermon preached by Fr. Ernie on September 24, 2023.
Once upon a time there was a land of snow and cold. The winters were long and hard, the wind fierce and frigid. For months on end there was blizzard after blizzard. The snow piled up as high as the roofs so that the people could be trapped in their houses for weeks on end. This was hard on everyone, but it was especially hard for two young girls. Their names were Sophie and Nadia, and they were best friends. They were only really happy when they were together, but because of the harsh weather in this country, there were often long periods when they did not see each other at all. They could not even call each other up, because this was long ago — long before anyone had ever thought of phones, or radios, or even televisions. They could not even write letters, because this was before mailmen too. Sophie and Nadia could do nothing but stare out their windows at the drifts of swirling snow and wonder what the other was up to in her separate home.
Those houses were small too. All houses in this land were small. They were tiny and cramped. That made them easier to heat. As I say, all the houses in this land were small, but there was one exception. It was a big exception, too, because this house was not just large, it was huge, enormous. It was a mansion, in fact, almost a castle. Really, it was both. It was a mansion and a castle all rolled into one, although people just called it “the Mansion.” Although no one knew of anyone who had ever been inside the Mansion, there was a rumor that it had more rooms than there were numbers to count them. It was that big. The Mansion sat on the top of a hill a mile from the town, and everyone wondered what it was like inside. In fact, that was Nadia and Sophie’s favorite game. Whenever they were together they would “play Mansion,” they would pretend that they both lived there together and would take turns telling each other what they would do.
“I think I would find a bed and go to sleep,” Sophie would say.
“Why would you sleep if you had the whole mansion to play in?” Nadia would ask.
“Because I know that the bed would be so soft and cuddly,” Sophie would say. “What would you do?”
“I’d eat,” Nadia would respond, “because of course the food there is delicious, nothing but tasty little cakes and cookies. I’d eat and eat.”
The girls could go on like this for hours.
Then one day something happened that no one in the village would ever forget. The night before someone had slipped an invitation under the door of every single home. No one had seen anyone do this, but in the morning there it was, an envelope lying on the floor of every house in town, and since Nadia and Sophie were always the first ones up in their homes they were the ones who found it. Each tore open the envelope and read the words inside aloud: “You and all your family are invited to the Mansion for a Christmas party on December 25. Festivities begin at 1 PM and end promptly at 5 PM. Do not miss it.”
The girls could not believe it. No one could. This was the biggest thing that had ever happened in the village. No one talked of anything else. But for Nadia and Sophie it was even more. It was their dream come true, and for them it was almost too much. They thought of nothing else. They dreamed of it at night, and their game now took on an urgency and excitement that left them both exhausted. Their whole lives were now lived in anticipation of this great event. They couldn’t wait. It drove them nearly crazy.
The days crept by, but at last the time drew near. Then early on Christmas Eve a blizzard began. No surprise there, except that this was the fiercest blizzard that anyone could remember. The wind was so violent that it blew people over. The snow was so high that it entirely covered many of the houses. “Surely this will stop by tomorrow,” people said, but it did not. On Christmas day the storm was just as bad.
“This is too much,” some said. “Of course I want to see the Mansion, but I can barely walk a few steps in this weather. I’ll never make for the whole mile it takes to get there.”
Most, though, were determined to give it a try. And as for Sophie and Nadia, nothing would hold them back. After dressing themselves with every warm piece of clothing that she had, each girl set off from their separate homes. Nadia’s house was the closest, and the path she took was partially sheltered from the wind. Even so, it took her over two hours to walk the mile to the Mansion. She reached the door chilled to the bone. Nadia knocked and was let inside. There she found a small group of other villagers, all nearly frozen like herself, and looked around for Sophie but couldn’t find her.
But then she noticed the Mansion itself, and it took her breath away. The place was far, far more beautiful than she had ever imagined. It was spacious and elegant, with blazing fireplaces in every room, high vaunted ceilings, and the soft light of candles everywhere. The marble floors were covered with plush carpets, the walls with frescoes, and there were so many potted plants that it felt almost like summer. A small orchestra was playing in the corner and everywhere there were tables filled with more food than she had ever seen.
Nadia’s heart thrilled at all this, but then it dropped in sorrow. As wonderful as all this was, Nadia couldn’t really enjoy it. Sophie was not there. Her friend was missing.
“Oh, Sophie,” she thought. “You have to see this. You simply must.”
Nadia walked around the Mansion and waited as more and more people wandered in, all stiff with cold and unrecognizable under a layer of snow. Nadia studied every one as they shed their coats and joined the others, but Sophie never appeared. By now many people were dancing. Others were eating and talking excitedly. Most, though, were simply gawking at the beauty and wonder of the place. Nadia could do none of these. She just kept thinking, “Where is Sophie? Why isn’t she here? Is she going to make it? Is she even OK?”
Then before she knew it a gong sounded, and Nadia realized to her horror that it was nearly 5 o’clock. She couldn’t believe it. The party was about to end, and Sophie had missed it. As the gong sounded, though, a man in the uniform of a senior servant appeared and held up his hands for everyone to be quiet.
“My friends,” he said, “on behalf of my master, the owner of this Mansion, I want to thank you for taking the time and trouble to come to his home today for this special celebration. To thank you for accepting his offer, he has a present for each of you. Please accept this gift with his love.” No sooner had the senior servant said this than several dozen other servants appeared, each carrying a bag filled with small boxes, all beautifully gift-wrapped, and began to pass them around, giving one to every person present. When Nadia got her gift, she stared at it a moment, then slowly untied the ribbon and lifted the cover of the box to peer inside. At first, she couldn’t understand what it was that she saw there, but there was a note attached, and as she read it, she gasped in wonder. Could this really be? Was it actually possible? But then again, her heart sunk. This incredible gift only made her sadness worse. It was bad enough that her best friend had missed the party, but she had now missed out on this too.
But just then, the door burst open and a small figure stumbled inside and collapsed to her knees, then slid to the floor.
“Sophie!” Nadia shouted, her voice a mixture of fear and relief. “Sophie, at last,” and then to the others: “Please help me with her. She’s nearly frozen.”
The other guests surged forward, and together they helped the young girl out of her coat and over to the fireplace where she slowly warmed. At last she was able to speak.
“I got lost in the storm,” Sophie gasped, her words barely audible. “I missed the party, didn’t I?”
Holding her hand, Nadia could only nod, tears running down her checks.
“Was it wonderful, Nadia?” Sophie asked weakly.
“Not without you,” Nadia replied. She simply could bring herself to tell her friend that missing the party was nothing compared to missing out on the present that she had just received.
And yet just then, the head servant appeared. He bent down to where Sophie lay on the floor and handed the girl a little box with a ribbon.
“My master has made it clear that his gift is for all who accept his invitation no matter how late they appear,” the servant said.
Sophie examined the box then turned to Nadia. “What is it?” she asked.
“Open it and see,” Nadia said quietly.
Sophie pulled away the ribbon, lifted the cover, and looked inside.
“What is this?” Sophie asked.
“Can’t you tell?” Nadia said, barely able to contain her excitement. “It’s a key. The note explains it. It’s is a key to this Mansion, Sophie. Yes, you missed the party, but you got something far more precious, a key to the Mansion itself. You’ve got one, and I’ve got one. Everyone here has one. From now on this is our home, Sophie — you and I and everyone else. Each of us has our own place here. We can live here from now on — all of us — everyone who accepted the Master’s offer. Can you believe it? It’s what we’ve always wanted, Sophie. It’s ours now.”
With that, as Nadia held her hand, Sophie began to cry. They were tears of joy.
Do I have to tell you that they lived happily ever after? Of course they did.
Now, my question to you is this. How many of you noticed that this little fairytale is makingthe exact same pointas Jesus’ parable in today’s gospel? Jesus’ story talks of workers and wages, but he could just as well have talked about a party-goers and keys, because either way the message is the same. God is making us an offer, an offer to everyone in the world. Some hear God’s offer as an invitation to hard work. I prefer to see it as an invitation to a party, because what God is really calling us to do is love each other and become connected. But whether we see what he is offering as a labor or as a celebration there’s a gift that comes with accepting that offer. We get that gift whether we accept the offer right at the start or only at the very last minute. The late comers miss the party, but they still get the gift. And what is that gift? It’severything worth having. It is life. It is love. It is God’s very self for all eternity. As Jesus said, “In my father’s house are many dwelling places. I go to prepare a place for you.” All you have to do is accept the invitation. AMEN
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