October 17, 2010

Luke 17:20-21, 18:1-8; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
“Like… Persistent Hope”

widow God
(c) 2010 Thom M. Shuman

like the hardheaded
mother
who thinks that
every child
on every team
should get to play
in every game,
you stand up for us;

like a
squirrel who races around
the yard,
diving into each
pile of leaves,
knowing another acorn
will be found,
you are tenacious
in finding that kernel
of goodness in each of us;

like the
4th grade girl
who faces down
the schoolyard bullies
trying to extort money
for smokes from
the 1st graders
on the playground,
you take our side
no matter what the odds;

like the
father
who pushes the drama coach
to envision his
wheelchair-riding daughter
as the perfect
Eliza Doolittle,
you are unwavering
in pushing us to
think outside the box;

like the
golden retriever
who starts out
with a wet nose
against the hand
hanging at the side of the bed
and ends up pulling the cover
off its owner
to start the morning walk,
you doggedly push
us down paths
we would rather
not take.

you' re a persistent cuss,
aren't you?

This poem tells us about God in the persistence of a mother, an older schoolmate, a father, and a dog. Likewise, so do today’s readings from the Bible. Both readings today were written probably within twenty years of one another, 2 Timothy in about 67 A.D. and Luke sometime between 60-90 A.D.. It is important for us to understand that at the time they were written, people were starting to feel discouraged. They had expected Jesus’ return soon. That was their greatest hope but it hadn’t happened. They were tired of waiting. They were tired of being persecuted as a small minority group in a great big empire. They were tired of their suffering. And they were tired of feeling anxious about when (or even if) their hope would be realized.

Today's passage from Luke is about not being discouraged in that waiting. Somehow, we've often read the story of the widow and the judge as a lesson to "nag" God with our repeated requests, or being persistent in offering up prayers so God will eventually give in and give us what we want. But that is not it at all. Rather, it is about not losing heart and instead, being persistent in our hope that is found in Jesus Christ.

Paul, in 2 Timothy (A.D. 67), writes, “continue in what you have learned (3:14)… in view of his appearing and his kingdom… be persistent in your belief… and patient in your teaching.” Paul, too, advises the church (and us) to be persistent in our hope for the future.

I think there is good news in Jesus' words. When the Pharisees asked, “When is the kingdom of God coming?” Jesus gives a rather mysterious answer that suggests the kingdom is both present and yet to be revealed. Jensen, in his Preaching Luke’s Gospel, says we should not be discouraged or lose heart as we live out this paradox. Rather we should look to the example of the woman in this story who did not lose heart.” Her persistence evoked a response even from an unrighteous judge. God IS righteous and WILL grant justice. Be persistent and stand firm in a faith that is strengthened through prayer! (Jensen)

I wonder if Jesus is saying, “Be like the widow.” Be persistent. Keep on looking for God’s kingdom of justice. It will happen. Keep on doing the right thing for its own sake. It is what we should do. Keep on living right, EVEN though justice doesn’t appear to be happening yet. It will. Being persistent worked for the widow; it will work for you.

The Reverend Andrew Prior writes, “To live like this is to live in faith. To live like this is to live righteously; it is doing what is right for no other reason than it is right. This is the paradox.” But what are we to do when our doing good and living right does not seem to make a difference in the world or our community or even our own family? What if it seems nothing has changed and God’s kingdom and justice are as far off as far can be? What then? Nothing is better than before. And yet... Jesus says, “be persistent; the kingdom WILL come. And, it IS here.”

There will be a time when we realize as we struggle and pray and choose to do the right thing - that something is touching us or lifting us or somehow holding us in this place. We are a part of more than our surroundings. It is then, at those times, we can actually sense the kingdom is right here, now, and we are a part of it.

Our prayer life can sustain us even in the worst of times, and keep us close to God: "You are going to trust the process," Barbara Brown Taylor writes, "regardless of what comes of it, because the process itself gives you life. The process keeps you engaged with what matters most to you, so you do not lose heart." Hold fast in your faith no matter what, and through everything, trust in God. Be persistent… as Taylor says, “not to get what you want, but rath