As Matthew’s gospel nears the end of its witness of the life and ministry of Jesus the teaching becomes more urgent and the context more conflicted. (Twenty Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 28 [33] Matthew 25:14-30) In many ways this suits the atmosphere of our times with the images of light and dark, day and night, the need to continue to live and work with faith, love and the hope of salvation (not just for ourselves but for all). The atmosphere of urgency and light fig