Sunday, 16th October 2022 (Year C) (Proper 24)
St Anne’s, Wrenthorpe (Eucharist)
Luke 18:1-8 / 2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:5 / Genesis 32:22-31
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
When the Son of Man comes, will He find such persistence and faith?
Hold that thought, for the moment.
What do we pray for?
That’s a rhetorical question…. Sorry!
Most prayer, even when in church, is quite personal in its form and nature.
We often pray for change – in and for others, ourselves and the world….
We might pray for some outcome or other…, a change….
Yet, doesn’t the very act of prayer – of being faithful and hopeful – change us – in a way that is more significant than what we actually pray for?
We are transformed by prayer.
We do not seek to transform God by prayer, no matter how relentless we are!
Today’s readings from scripture ask us to think about how persistent we are.
I wonder what you make of the passage we heard from Pauls Second Letter to Timothy.
Paul is reminding Timothy that scripture equips him for his ministry and, even though the time is coming where many will turn aside in search of other spiritualities, scripture – the truth of God – will prevail!
Now, for the sake of clarity, we are reminded that when Paul speaks of Scripture he is referring to what we call the Old Testament – the Torah – from where many encouraging stories of perseverance are to be found.
Think of The Exodus and Moses leading Israel through the Wilderness for ever and a day!
Or the passage from Genesis, that is in todays lectionary, where Jacob struggles with God – literally wrestling to the point of hip dislocation!
All that came before – the scripture that prepared the Way for Jesus, and now, the Words of Christ and the Apostles…
Paul is handing over the mission and ministry of the early Christian church to Timothy, and to others in whom he places his trust.
It sounds like an impossible task… but the Holy Spirit, with scripture and faith – Christianity will prevail… and it did, and still does….
Personally, I believe that living the life of hopeful discipleship is more than the words of scripture alone – it requires the lived examples of scripture – of trials and challenges, of pain and joy, of drawing closer to God, of relationship, of prayer and thanksgiving… all of this and much more!
It’s not a simple case of – here’s the Bible, now get on with it!
And yet there are those who will chastise and diminish the person of faith – pointing out our “special book” and how it has caused so much unhappiness and destruction throughout history…..;
That there are much easier ways to live life without such nonsense…
Our modern societies are filled with such short-term notions of wellbeing and happiness.
And it seems this isn’t new, as we hear from Paul’s letters.
And then I think of those detractors…and I would respond:
Have you any idea how much effort is involved, being a Christian in this modern age?
It is hard even in our protected, liberal Western nations – to follow Christ and to hear His calling amidst the noise of choice and alleged freedoms….
To be a Christian in other parts of the world, surrounded by war and hardship, where proclaiming the Good News could become a death sentence… and persecution is a daily experience.
Tell me that it’s all about blind acceptance of words on a page;
Do you think prayer is easy, that it is ‘heard’ in ways we want it to be?
That following Jesus is just a way of having fun at the weekend?
That we have an easier time because we ‘have religion’?
That you can offer something better from a plethora of ‘pick ‘n’ mix’ options…..
Seriously?
Paul encourages Timothy, and those who hear him, that he should keep going in his ministry. It’s what you might expect Paul to say: don’t give up, Scripture will enable you and my example of perseverance, amidst so many challenges. It will inspire… now and in the future.
And then, in Luke: More Perseverance & Persistence.
I think that today’s Gospel might need some careful handling when we share it, as Christian Disciples.
Again, this is NOT about praying in ways that we seek to change the will of God!
Luke isn’t saying that God is like the Unjust Judge – uncaring and prone to being worn down.
And those who offer daily prayer are not the same as the one who bangs on the door day and night to be heard – even if it may seem like that sometimes!
The Unjust Judge – assailed by the Persistent Woman.
She, of low status, with no one to stand her corner…. Has the need to be heard and be vindicated.
He, supposedly dispensing justice, doesn’t actually care about ‘people’ or God, he wants an easy life!
What is he to do, I hear you ask!
Different biblical translations give us an intriguing array of responses.
In verse 5 – I will grant her ‘justice’ ….
….otherwise I’m going to end up being beaten black and blue by her pounding” [says The Message]
… she will finally wear me out” [says the Good News Bible]
…so that she wont … attack me” [says the New International Version]
And my favourite,
… so she doesn’t …. Give me a black eye” [from the translation by theologian, NT Wright].
So much fear of violence and discomfort from this woman, of a much lower status…. Does she really wield that much power?
Is that so often the motivation for granting someone’s wishes? The fear of a less-than-easy-life…
The entire history of human interactions, of negotiations, and protest….
It may begin with pure intention … maybe hope and a belief of something better…
Yet, frustration at not being heard, or recognising you are in a losing position…. Over and over… with very little to loose…
Where can that kind of persistence lead?
The party to which you are taking your protest – political, legal, relationship, workplace, neighbours… at what point might they relent, and see your position – letting a right sense of ‘justice’ prevail?
Then again, what makes you think you are in the right? How much has your strength and sense of righteousness resulted in the other party relenting under duress; giving in – feeling like you do?
“And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them?”
When I was thinking about this passage, I tried to view it through a contemporary lens.
I thought of a Russian mother, banging on the door of the Kremlin, pleading with her leader to end the war so her son could come home safely. Sadly, I couldn’t imagine that scenario lasting very long…
And then I think of the women and young people in Iran, protesting in the face of a regime that will not stop in its repression and cruelty.
Like other such nations, where self-expression and life-choices are disregarded, where religion is only one form or none – how can you push against this?
How can the human spirit keep going – persevering – when oppression is relentless, day after day.
Or the family in the community where you live – you know them. They do their best to make ends meet, letting go of pride to visit a food bank, and dress their children in second-hand school uniforms.
Strange that our society points this out as symbolic of failure – but there you are, we do so.
Yet this is reality – and you watch and you probably help them. And you know there will be many more in difficulty this Winter. They keep going, for as long as they are able.
And what else can you do? We take our freedoms for granted. How can we help others who are in such dire straits?
Well, in all situations where adversity seems to get the better of us, we believe we have a voice – and mostly, we do. From letters to the editor, to social media, protesting in the streets of our cities, sitting down and gluing hands to the road…. Whatever it is…. It’s possible, for you and for me.
Maybe this time, we can make it happen – make that difference – and all will be well? Justice for all.
Perhaps that’s not the voice you are comfortable with.
How then can we act with persistence in ways that can support and encourage others?
Love as God loves us.
Prayer. Listening. Acknowledgement and solidarity. In small ways, maybe. Not turning away, but calling out abuse and injustice – in your way…quietly.
Even if an ‘unrighteous’ person does just one thing right, because having been badgered into it, we see that God hears our prayers.
And yet, just how much do we trust God to listen to what we have to say? Even on matters of life an death.
And then Jesus asks: When the Son of Man comes, will He find such persistence and faith?
Actually, is it a question or a statement? Jesus tells stories and parables, and He always knows the nature of humanity… then and now!
Here, Jesus doesn’t equate the Disciples with the persistent woman, nor God with the Judge.
He asks: Will you remain persistent in prayer, fervent in a faithful life, regardless of what it takes – like the woman in the story…?
Or, like the judge, will you give it all up and just do what is necessary for an easy life, even when you are given the opportunity to help many?
How will He find us?
What does persistence look like to you? Is it about not-giving-up, or maybe demonstrating to yourself, and those around you, that you can go the distance and seek changes that are worthwhile?
What examples of ‘bending someone’s ear’ or changing their mind could you give…
And then compare that to prayer….
The sort of prayer that is urgent, filled with tears; prayer that takes all of your energy, probably at a time when you don’t have much to spare; prayer that might even seem like bargaining… but is really just the whole of you poured out before God – naked, angry, desperate, hopeful, lost, sad, grateful….
I think you know the kind of prayerfulness to which I refer… it takes your all – every little bit of you…
And for what? Does your prayer seek an outcome? What are the results you want?
When we pray for someone we love who is close to the end…. What are we asking for?
Or for ourselves to be removed from a terrible situation…. What do we want changing- us or them?
For the world to find ‘peace’….. How can this happen, as I feel so helpless?
Or maybe there is nothing prayed for….. just persistent dialogue – day in day out.
Seeking to be heard. Wanting to be valued.
I think that is what Jesus is trying to teach those around Him – never mind the results, just come closer to God.
Faithfulness, through the scriptures, gives us a confidence that our prayers are heard…. Yes…
But what else?
When the Son of Man returns…. How will he find us?
Will He see our lives of faithful prayer? Trusting in God?
What about when I found it easier to pray…whereas I don’t, at the moment..?
I am empty.
Will He know we that I seek a relationship with God…? Yes,.
That in and through our prayer, we come to know ourselves, as God knows us…
That all of this – is part of our journey to being known fully by God.
We are not telling God what to do!
We might pray ‘your will be done’ – not ours.
Pray, that this week, you can find the resolve to remain in a prayerful union with God.
Prayer can and will transform you, and the world around you.
Never give up. Never.
Amen.
References
Rohr, R. (2016) https://cac.org/podcasts/god-listening-changes/
Williams, J. (2011) Lectionary Reflections: Years A, B & C, SPCK
Wright, N.T. (2004) Luke for Everyone – Second Edition, SPCK
Church Times (18th Sunday after Trinity)