October 6, 2019
17th Sunday after Pentecost
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4
Psalm 37:1-10
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Luke 17:5-10
Please pray with me,
May the words of my mouth and the
meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God, our rock and
our redeemer. Amen.
Increase our faith!
How often have we said something
like that?
Increase our faith!
That apparently the faith we have
is not great enough.
Like faith comes in different
sizes. Small, medium, large….super
sized?
Is it a muscle that we can
increase?
Have you ever met someone and
thought…wow their faith is amazing…I wish I had faith like that.
I’m reminded of a scene from The
Empire Strikes Back. (It was a bit long for worship, but you can watch it here.)
Luke is in the swamp with Yoda and
his Jedi skills are being honed.
He is lifting stones, backpacks,
even the droid, R2D2….
Luke wants to get his ship out of
the swamp…he tries to use the force to do so, but he lacks the force or the
faith…he lifts is up a little, but can’t seem to get it out of the puddle. He gets all pouty…and says,
Luke: I can’t. It’s too big.
Yoda: Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.
Yoda: Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.
Yoda
then demonstrates by focusing on the ship and using the force to move the craft
out of the water and onto the land, next to Luke.
Amazed,
Luke says:
Luke: I don’t, I don’t believe it.
Yoda: That is why you fail.
Yoda: That is why you fail.
To the apostles in our gospel passage
this day, faith is something that they want more of. They feel that they do not have enough…that
more is needed…
Would you really want to say to a
mulberry tree be uprooted and planted in the sea…and have it do so? If we had faith to uproot trees and move
mountains, clean up days around the church would be much easier…not to mention
moving from one house to another. But
that’s not what it’s all about.
Perhaps this is similar to the person who
states: "I can't do it," and a parent/mentor type insists: "Yes,
you can." They try and discover that they can do it.
I see this often in my 5-year-old nephew.
He’ll be half way across the monkey bars and he’ll say, “I can’t do it!” And his dad replies…”But you are doing it!!”
How many of us have said, "I can't do
door to door evangelism."
"I can't talk to him/her about the hurt
they have caused me."
"I can't forgive him/her." It would
seem to me that the issue in such statements is not that of "can't
do," but one of fear -- which is the opposite of faith.
How do we, in our everyday actions do things
that we do not think we are capable of doing?
Or maybe a better question is how many of us
are gifted in ways we cannot see, but are living faithful lives through small
and simple actions?
We are invited to take part in simple actions
so often that we may even overlook them.
I received this message from a Trinity member who took part in a simple
action:
This person wrote, “I just dropped off a
meal. There had been a lot of visitors
and people at that house today…I sensed their tiredness and stayed for just a
short time…yet in that time, I deeply felt Trinity’s ministry of joyfully
giving and thankfully receiving. There
was such a loving connection between us as member of our church family. I saw and felt God today…right in the center
of our gathering of 3. Thank you for
that opportunity to serve.”
What simple action have you been invited to
take part in?
How might this action be God showing faith to
you and to others?
A brief prayer I read recently is related to
this text:
"O God, I don't pray for enough faith to
uproot mulberry trees. I can get enough dynamite and bulldozers to do that.
What I need and ask for is enough faith to move me.”
What I need and ask for is enough faith to
move me.
Because here’s the thing…
God has given us all the faith that
we need.
Sometimes we just forget how
amazing that gift and blessing is.
We are given the ability to do
exactly what God calls us to do through simple acts of love and service.
This faith is a gift. And it’s not just free-floating faith…that is
just out there…it is faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
Faith isn’t something that is ours
alone that we can change and grow and increase…it is through God’s promise in
Jesus Christ that we receive the basic forgiveness we are called to share…
What if, instead of asking for more
faith, the question or request from the disciples was this:
Lord, draw us deeply into your
creation and resurrection…into that forgiveness and grace.
Instead of us asking for our faith
to be increased, what if we asked God to draw us more deeply into God’s
creation and resurrection…into God’s forgiveness and grace.
That’s really what it’s all
about.
Being drawn in to God’s promise,
God’s love, God’s forgiveness and God’s grace.
Knowing that God calls us to tasks
that we may not be ready for…but we go anyway, trusting in the promise of the
resurrection….and knowing the forgiveness and grace we have already received
and will continue to receive.
How are we drawn in week after week? At the meal at this table.
This is the table that speaks to us
and says…
All are welcome.
No matter where you think you are
in your faith journey, no matter what your sins…there is a place for you.
No matter what your questions,
problems, fears, doubts….there is a place for you.
And it's all about drawing people in to this place.
It’s drawing people in, to feel
God’s love and grace.
It’s drawing people to this
table…to receive the gift of God.
It’s helping all humanity to see
our imperfections, our faults and our struggles…and the reassurance that we are
not alone. That no matter who we are,
God loves us.
And that no matter what we do, God
loves us.
That is what is at the root of
faith…A loving, compassionate, forgiving and saving God. Who wants the world to know that it is
loved.
So, we ask God together, draw us
in…
Dear God,
Draw us into this place for
forgiveness and fellowship, for honesty and love for one another.
Draw us into this table…where bread
and wine overflow for everyone, where sins are forgiven and grace is poured
out….
And draw us more deeply into you…in
our homes, in our schools, in our places of work…that you may guide our hearts
and minds to share this redeeming love and grace with those whom we meet.
And may the peace, which passes all
understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and let all God’s
people say, Amen.
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