{"id":511374,"date":"2002-11-17T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2002-11-17T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/episcopalchurch:8888\/sermon\/our-hidden-identity-proper-28-a-2002\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T19:18:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T23:18:08","slug":"our-hidden-identity-proper-28-a-2002","status":"publish","type":"sermon","link":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/sermons\/our-hidden-identity-proper-28-a-2002\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Hidden Identity, Proper 28 (A) &#8211; 2002"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[A special note to the reader or preacher: this sermon is built around a poem or kind of \u201crap\u201d lyric that is designed for antiphonal call and response. The reader reads a line and the congregation repeats that line. Of course, the lyric can simply be read as a poem. But if it is done antiphonally, it may, for instance, be accompanied by a simple drumbeat \u2014 a conga drum, djembe, bongo, etc. Or it may be accompanied by some kind of clapping or by a combination of foot stomp and clap-stomp-stomp clap, stomp-stomp clap. If you use some thought and creativity, and can work in collaboration with musicians, you and the congregation will be richly rewarded. The more the congregation can participate in reading the lines, the more each person present will internalize this exploration of the meaning of our church\u2019s corporate name: The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Parable of the Talents that we hear in today\u2019s Gospel is one of our trickier parables. Trickier because we want to see it as justifying capitalism or some sort of commitment to self-improvement by better using the gifts and talents we are given. John Pilch, an important biblical scholar and author of The Cultural World of Jesus, assures us that the Mediterranean peasants listening to this story would not share the modern concern for capitalism or the culture of self-improvement. The story would, Pilch would say, reinforce their view that people like the master exist in their experience, and are dishonorable, shameless, and rapacious in reaping that which is not theirs to begin with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In fact, there are other versions of this parable from the first century that conclude with the third slave being viewed as the only honorable person in the entire story, taking the safe and prudent course of action. That is, we ought not to jump to the conclusion that the master is demonstrating the behavior of God. Rather the story is illustrative of the kinds of oppressive ownership issues with which people in the world of Jesus struggled every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Matthew\u2019s audience of early Christians, this might actually have been descriptive of what was happening in the persecutions of the early church as they touched the lives of church members. But what about those of us who are hearing the parable this morning? What might Jesus be saying to us here and now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is as strong theme in Matthew, notably in the Sermon on the Mount, that we are not to hide our light under a bushel. A city on a hill cannot be hid. As the old song says, we are to let our light shine, shine, shine, so that others might see our good works and give glory to God. That is exactly what he says in chapter 5 of Matthew\u2019s Gospel. To hide our light, to hide the city of God, to hide the church, to hide our good works is to deny others the opportunity to give God the glory and praise our God so deeply desires and richly deserves. To do so is to keep our true identity as imago Dei, people created in the image of God, a secret from others, ourselves, and from all of creation. To hide one\u2019s true self, suggests Jesus over and over again as well as in this parable, has eternal consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It might surprise many people to learn that the name of our church is hidden. Not of this parish, but in some respects, of the Episcopal Church itself. The corporate name of this body \u2014 an institution of which many of us are rightly proud \u2014 is very significant. By resolution of our General Convention in the last century, our corporate name became The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society \u2014 or DFMS, for short. Like the third servant, we keep that face of our identity buried. It\u2019s too bad, because DFMS is a name that is wonderfully descriptive of who we are and what we are meant to be doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are indeed a society of missionaries sent to do mission both locally and abroad. It might help if we knew that. It might help if, as a reminder, we put, on our Episcopal Church sign in front of our church building, for example, St. Peter\u2019s Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, if only to remind ourselves each time we come to church, who we are called to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To illustrate the richness of our corporate name, join in repeating each line of this \u201crap\u201d poem, exploring the hidden and yet important meanings of that name: DFMS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DFMS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DFMS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serving people everywhere of ever variety<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We work for Jesus, We work for God<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serving people everywhere<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At home and abroad<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Domestic means family<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Domestic means home<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Domestic means native<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Domestic means servant<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ye servants of Jesus<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ye servants of God<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Domestic and foreign missionary society<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serving people everywhere of every variety<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We work for Jesus, We work for God<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serving people everywhere<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At home and abroad<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Foreign means from another country<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Foreign means Alien<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Foreign means Immigrant<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Foreign means Different<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Foreign means Unknown<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serving people everywhere of every variety<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We work for Jesus, We work for God<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serving people everywhere<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At home and abroad<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Missionary means Messenger<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Missionary means Teacher<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Missionary means Apostle<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Missionary means Herald<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hark, the Herald<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hark, the Herald<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Missionary means Evangelist<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Evangelist means good angel<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good angel<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good angel<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are all good angels<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A society of angels<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Society<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Company<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fellowship<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Communion<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Society of variety<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Company of variety<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fellowship of variety<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Communion of variety<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serving people everywhere of every variety<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We work for Jesus, We work for God<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serving people everywhere<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At home and abroad<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let our lights shine<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Put them high on a stand<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To shine in every heart<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everywhere in every land<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t hide them in the ground<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t bury them in the sand<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are the light<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The light of the world<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A city on a hill cannot be hid<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are the light<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The light of the world<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let your light shine<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So others might see<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See your good works<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And give glory to God<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let your light shine<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So others might see<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are the<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serving people everywhere of every variety<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We work for Jesus, We work for God<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Serving people everywhere<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At home and abroad<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DFMS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DFMS<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. That\u2019s our corporate name. We should take it out from underneath whatever bushel we hide it under so that all the world may see just who we are and what we are all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This sermon was written by <strong>the Rev. Kirk Alan Kubicek<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[A special note to the reader or preacher: this sermon is built around a poem or kind of \u201crap\u201d lyric that is designed for antiphonal call and response. The reader reads a line and the congregation repeats that line. Of course, the lyric can simply be read as a poem. But if it is done&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":201212,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[43,52,33,1953],"tags":[114],"class_list":["post-511374","sermon","type-sermon","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sermons","category-sermons-that-work","category-the-season-after-pentecost","category-worship-and-prayer-menu","tag-proper-28a"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":43,"label":"Sermons"},{"value":52,"label":"Sermons That Work"},{"value":33,"label":"The Season After Pentecost"},{"value":1953,"label":"worship_and_prayer_menu"}],"post_tag":[{"value":114,"label":"Proper 28A"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":[],"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon\/511374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/sermon"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon\/511374\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3478553,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon\/511374\/revisions\/3478553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=511374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=511374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=511374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}