As our home church in Casco, Maine reopened from the pandemic lockdown, I have had the blessing of performing a routine or two many Sunday mornings.  Reently I brushed the dust off of an old routine (One of the first Gospel routines I wrote, probably 33 years ago or more.)  I revised some of the juggling to fit my current skill level, and to better communicate the parable.  What follows is a mix of Jesus' telling of the parable intersperced with my juggling version of it.

¹⁴ “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five bags of gold:

I enter wearing a hat, speaking to an unseen, unheard King.  I act pleased with his gift of five new props: the two pieces of a balance board, a hand stick, plate and ring.  While standing on the balance board, I spin the plate on the stick and spin the rng with my other hand. I assure the King I will use the gift, share it and glorify him with it.

to another two bags:

I reenter with a different hat and different voice.  I have the same interaction with the unseen king, this time with two basketballs that I juggle.

and to another one bag:

A third hat -including a little visual comedy - a third voice, and a similar interaction with one ball.

 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. ¹⁷ So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. ¹⁸ But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.¹⁹ “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’:

First character returns, acknowledging the original five props already, then, since he shared what he had, adding five more: a second level to the balance board, another stick and plate, and additional plate spun on a mouth stick.  I perform with all 10 items, then thank the King for letting me serve him.

²¹ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’²² “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

Second character returns, acknowledging the two basketballs he once received, but showing that, through use and sharing, he now has four.  I then juggle all four basketballs.

²³ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’²⁴ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’:

Third character returns with just the original ball. The King demads it be given back.

 

His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷ Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.²⁹ For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. ³⁰ And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’