A triptych is a panel with three pictures, usually around some related theme. That’s what we’ve had these past three weeks - a triptych of parables. The first was the parable of the bridesmaids, wise and foolish. The faithful were prepared, the foolish figured they had time and oil to spare. The second was the parable of the servants and their talents on loan. Two were wise, doing business with the talents on loan from their master; one was foolish, burying his talent out of fear and in the end loosing everything. Today is parable number three: the sheep and the goats and the Shepherd-King who sorts them.

Fear is one of our greatest paralyzers. Fear of failure. Fear of punishment. Fear of criticism. Fear of condemnation. It can start with a harsh word from a parent; a discouraging criticism from a teacher; a hard and demanding boss. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” goes the saying, and yet working under a shroud of fear, nothing ventured actually seems like a pretty safe bet. It did to the cautious servant in our Lord’s parable for today - the parable of talents.

“Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Mt 25:13)

We are in the final Sundays of the church year. Today is the third-last. The focus of these three last Sundays is on the end, the last day, the Day of the Lord. Just as there was a beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, there is also an end of this creation and the rising up of a new creation out of the death of the old. Just as there is a death, so there is an end to all things.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Revelation 14:13)

There are nine beatitudes (blesseds) in the Sermon on the Mount that you heard in this morning’s Gospel reading. And there are similarly nine beatitudes in the Revelation, of which the ones I just read are numbers 3 and 4. I’m not sure what that means, but I find it interesting and noteworthy nonetheless. Nine - a triple three of divine blessing. There are no numerical accidents in the Scriptures.

What is surprising though, is who are called “blessed” - the dead. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth.” They correspond to the spiritually poor, mourning, meek, hungering and thirsting of righteousness, merciful, pure hearted peacemaking, persecuted disciples. These are dead to the world and dead to themselves. In the Revelation, the blessed are the literally dead as a doornail dead. And that might take us by surprise.

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

The Word of God, the truth of Christ, the freedom of the Gospel are the cause of our rejoicing on this Reformation Sunday. Reformation Day is actually on Friday, October 31st, the Eve of All Hallows, the day an Augustinian friar and professor posted his 95 theses for debate on the door of St. Mary’s church in Wittenberg 491 years ago. Who would have guessed that an academic piece of paper, in Latin no less, would have sparked one of the most significant movements in the history of Christianity? But that is the way of the Gospel - from tiny, insignificant beginnings to something that embraces the wo