PENTECOST 19 PROPER 22- 2007

October 07, 2007

the Rev. Ken Kroohs

(Habakkuk 1:1-13 & 2:1-4; Ps. 37:3-10; 2nd Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10)

St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, High Point, NC

MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND OUR REDEEMER AMEN

Got an interesting exercise for you. Read one of the Gospels noting every challenging teaching from Jesus. Then go back and rank them until you decide what is ... for you ... His most challenging teaching.

I have always thought that one of the most challenging scripture passages is the one which says: (paraphrase) God expects a lot from people who have been given a lot.

But today’s Gospel is just plain scary! It throws right in our face the question of exactly who we are — spiritually. And the answer does not seem very comforting.

Let me play therapist: When God says to YOU: “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, be rooted up and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you” .... How does that make you feel

Alright a test — everyone look out at that tree and tell it to move down the hill.

Doesn’t anyone in this room have faith?

First let me say that from another direction this is one of my favorite passages. I have a deep, evil side of me that enjoys tweaking people who claim I am not really a Christian because I do not believe every passage was meant as a newspaper account. I believe it is “literal” – but sometimes literal in a metaphorical sense. So I enjoyed asking them how many trees they have planted in the sea!

Still .... still ... Jesus is making a point. This is another passage in which preachers have attempted to explain away Jesus’ point to avoid embarrassing, stressing, or even challenging people. Actually, as a preacher I believe preachers try to explain away these teachings to avoid embarrassing ourselves!

They begin with this wonderful description of the mustard seed as one of the tiniest seeds in the world. They talk about how that extremely tiny seed, with help from God, grows into an extremely large plant. Then the sermon usually blends into how our faith can grow, with God’s help, into a powerful ministry.

ALL OF THAT IS GOOD! I am not trying to suggest anything else. It is good ... and accurate ... and important.

BUT, I am not sure that is Jesus’ point. I believe Jesus’ point is more about faith causing actions. Actions which seem as impossible as planting a tree in the sea.

I believe Jesus is speaking in a literal, if metaphorical, sense. But I don’t believe Jesus was speaking in the broad, “have some faith and you will lead a better life” style – although that is true.

I believe Jesus is speaking in a fairly direct and important way to us about our lack of faith ... more specifically - our lack of fiath in our faith. Consider what He is responding to. He had told the disciples that anyone who leads another person astray, away from God, would be better off with a millstone around their neck and thrown in the sea.

He then told the disciples that if anyone does something wrong, reprove them ... correct them but if they apologize, forgive them even seven times in a day.

Do not lead anyone astray, and be willing to forgive other people — to which the disciples reply: “Increase our faith” — “make it possible for us to do these things”.

So when Jesus talks about the mustard seed I don’t think He is focusing on physical miracles. I believe He is saying we can accomplish the goals of loving our neighbors — despite the impossibility that seems at times --- we can accomplish that goal if we have even a little faith.

Remember I have stressed that I don’t believe Jesus is saying we should allow ourselves to be abused 7 times a day. I don’t believe “I forgive you” and “please come hurt me again” are the same statements. No, I believe we should forgive and we should be open with people — which sometimes results in us getting hurt, but that’s different from deliberately allowing abuse.

Jesus tells us that if we have even a tiny bit of faith we can forgive people — including ourselves. ... How does that make you feel? At times it makes ME wonder if I have even a tiny bit of faith because I don’t want to forgive, I want to beat them into a pulp! ... I used to think that is a “guy thing” but I have learned differently!

I don’t want to forgive!!! ... wait ... hmmm ... maybe, just maybe we have hit on the problem. I don’t WANT to forgive. Many times it is not the issue of I CANNOT forgive but the issue of I just don’t WANT to!

When the issue is that I just cannot bring myself to forgive another person, that is when it is so important to be part of a community to help me with that process.

[Comment1]

The earlier comment about not leading anyone astray SEEMS fairly simple — don’t teach any inaccurate Sunday school lessons. Simple enough. But if we read Jesus’ words throughout this section it goes way beyond that. Remember when the Pharisees laughed at Jesus’ comments about money and Jesus said: “you just want to look good in public – God abhors what is in your hearts”? They were leading people astray,

In many other places Jesus talks about people who claim one thing and do another. Claim to be observant, religious people but do not act that way. The rich man who let Lazarus starve at the gate for example.

I wonder if the disciples are not hearing Jesus say: “live up to your claims of being religious” and begging Jesus for help — “increase our faith so we CAN live up to those claims”.

And it begins to sound to me as if Jesus is responding to them, and US: “you have the faith — just use it”

I find that in most interpersonal conflicts ... and I might add most international conflicts ... it takes one of the parties backing off a little – not to be abused but just back off a little. It takes one of the parties to be willing NOT to “win” ... although they end up winning in the more important sense.

I submit to you it takes one of the parties to have faith in God ... even a tiny bit of faith .. . to back off a little bit.

It takes just a tiny bit of faith that God REALLY does know what is best. When God says to forgive others ... when God says to “love your neighbor” ... when God says to care for the poor ... just enough faith to believe God knows what is best.

Consider this ... you go to the doctor with complaints. The doctor tells you to take these tiny pills. Do you do it? ... Don’t most of us take the pills? So we have faith in the doctor. Faith, greater than a mustard seed.

Why do we have less faith in God?

One spiritual practice you may find helpful is to keep a prayer journal. In this case I am referring to a list of prayer requests you made. And prayer requests which respect the words in the Lord’s Prayer: “thy will be done”. No one lives forever but it is reasonable and appropriate to pray for comfort and peace. Or with an extended medical condition to pray for the ability to work with it.

But other prays may be even more interesting to track. The most important words a chaplain says in the hospital are the last ones before entering the room. If those last words are not: “help me God” there may very well be some arrogance present. If we forget for a moment that we need God’s help in those situations — its as if we go to do a job and forget the most important tools. Keep track of how often God responds.

We also need to be aware that God’s response is often provided through other people and means — including doctors and medicines and neighbors and family members. Those too are God’s responses.

The interesting thing about praying: “help me God” is that it works, but also it puts us into the mode of accepting our limitations. We admit we need help. A sincere: “help me God” prayer is extremely important.

Which may help explain Jesus’ next teaching. This is another one which should cause us to wiggle in our seats in embarrassment. In essence Jesus says to quit taking pride in our actions because ultimately it is all from God.

As with forgiveness and avoiding abuse there is a balancing act here. We need to acknowledge it all comes from God WHILE being proud of our willingness to do God’s work. That’s also hard. We want to take credit. But Jesus says our understanding is that we are servants and have done no more than our duty.

Our course that implies we have done no less than our duty!

Maybe the mustard seed image, rather than a subtle insult, was a reminder of hoe little we need. .... We just need to use it.

AMEN

We have previous sermons on our website. To read an earlier recent sermon just enter: www.st-christopher.org/sermon.html.

CLICK HERE TO RESPOND: I would enjoy reading your comments about this sermon. Please feel free to discuss content or presentation. (If you wish to use another email system send your comments to: ken@st-christopher.com)