Sermon preached at St. Alban's, Spirit Lake, on October 21, 2007
(Proper 24, Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, BCP Lectionary)
by the Rev. Carl D. MannTexts: Genesis 32:3-8,22-30
Psalm 121
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Luke 18:1-8a“Are we there yet? Are we there yet? How many more miles? This is boring! Are we there yet?”
All of us as adults have probably heard that before and for you kids of any age, you probably remember saying it. Non-stop pestering from the child to the parent on a trip or vacation, only aggravates the parent and makes time slow down unbearably for everyone.
A new twist on this theme appeared in commercials not too long ago for a wireless telephone company. A nerdy looking technician is mapping out the coverage area asking the same question every time he takes a step, “Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?”
But more apropos to this morning’s Gospel, unless you’re younger than twenty-eight, who can forget the Wendy’s commercial in 1984 featuring Clara Peller gruffly asking, “Where’s the beef? Where’s the beef?” Now whether she is just being cynical or she’s a female version of Mr. Magoo, either way, she is looking at a twelve-inch diameter bun holding a two-inch diameter hamburger patty and indignantly demands justice.
Now let’s put this parable into context. Jesus has been talking to his disciples about the eschaton, which is Greek for the end times or the end of the age. In that time things will not be all that wonderful, and there will be persecution for those who follow Jesus. Indeed, when Luke wrote his Gospel in the last third of the first century, the persecution of Christians had already begun, and his audience may have thought that the end times had arrived. Subsequently, Jesus tells his disciples “a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart” especially when things are looking grim.
Remember a few weeks ago when Jesus told the story of the dishonest steward, and there was a mental disconnect because all of the characters in the story were crooks of one form or another. In spite of his corrupt methods, Jesus was trying to get his disciples to learn shrewdness from the dishonest steward in order to be prepared for the end times. Well this parable is similar in nature.
First of all, Jesus is setting the scene by establishing the extremes of a situation. On the one side is an unjust judge, which is an oxymoron. By definition of title, a judge is supposed to mete out justice, but somehow, in spite of the fact that this judge has no respect for God and doesn’t give a hoot about anybody, he has been able to keep his job.
On the other side of the spectrum is a widow. Now in Jesus’ time, widows were at the lowest rung of the social ladder, second only to orphans. Just last week we heard the story of Ruth in the Old Testament lesson. Naomi’s husband and two sons died leaving her with two daughters-in-law of foreign birth named Ruth and Orpah. It was bad enough being just one widow who now had to fend for herself but three widows in one household didn’t stand a chance. So Naomi attempted to leave them in the country from whence they came so none of the three would be a burden to the other two. Orpah stayed behind in Moab but Ruth wouldn’t leave her mother-in-law, displaying the same tenacity and perseverance that is being depicted today by this unnamed widow.
Well this widow keeps coming to the judge looking for vindication from her adversary. It doesn’t say who her adversary is or how she has been wronged but the point is that she keeps coming back to the unjust judge day in and day out.
Finally the judge can’t take it anymore. Even though he has no respect for God or any human being, he decides that it would be best for everyone if he grants this woman’s petition so as to get rid of her. You can almost hear her: “I want justice! Where’s my Justice? When are you going to do something about my justice? I’m not leaving until I get justice!” Her persistence is starting to grate on his nerves so he rules in her favor just to shut her up.
Now I find this interesting. You know how I like the study of words and especially the little twists and turns that frequently occur in Greek or Hebrew. Well, when the judge says, “Because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice so that she may not wear me out by continually coming,” a literal translation of the Greek says, “Because this woman is constantly beating on me and making me work, I will give in to her demands before she beats me black and blue under the eyes.” In other words, “If she keeps this up, I’m going to get a black eye. If she keeps this up, people are going to start looking closer at what I do and how I do it. If she keeps this up, word will get out and my reputation will be marred, and I may lose this cushy job that allows me to do whatever I want to do without having to be accountable to anyone.”
You can almost envision little Clara Peller with her lace collar and dainty lace cuffs confronting the unjust judge with her dukes up, and saying, “I’ll show you the beef! It’s going to be a raw beef steak covering your eye when I’m through with you!”
After painting this vivid mental picture of widows punching out judges, Jesus concludes by saying, “Hear what the unjust judge says? Even with his open distain for God and humanity, every now and again he gives in and makes things right. But what about God? Will He not defend His chosen people who constantly cry out to Him? Will He wait as long to hear their cries as did this judge? No, I tell you, He will avenge them speedily!”
Now do not misconstrue Jesus’ words! He is not equating God with the unjust judge. That is the disconnect. God is always just even if we don’t understand or like it! The point of the parable is the determination of the widow!
You see, the unjust judge represents the end times with all of its trials and tribulations and persecutions. The widow represents steadfast Christian faith. Even though it appears that she will never receive justice, she keeps hammering away; never backing down in her belief, knowing that in the end she will be vindicated. She is the personification of what we prayed for in today’s collect: “[Lord], preserve the works of your mercy, [that is to say, maintain your Divine justice], that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your [most Holy] Name.” In other words, grant us the grace to be persistent in consistently proclaiming your Word whether the culture says it’s appropriate or not. Save us from itching ears! Do not let us succumb to the watered down teachings that reduce sound doctrine to nothing more than myths. Rather give us the strength to patiently persuade, patiently admonish, and patiently promote the Truth of your message of Salvation that is inherent in your inspired Holy Scripture through faith in Jesus Christ.
Now in my opinion, this is where the scholars who set the lectionary in the Prayer Book screwed up because they cut off the end of verse eight at the end of today’s Gospel. The rest of the verse says, “And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
You see, Jesus is preparing his disciples for the time when he will no longer be physically present with them. And in his absence there will be many times as a Christian that will be less than comfortable, even to the point of unjust death. But during those times, he is instructing them to not lose hope. Keep the faith! No matter how beaten down we are we are not to give up because in the end we will be vindicated. The point of the parable is not that we should badger God to get our own way but rather we are to remain faithful under all circumstances especially when the circumstances appear to be against us. We are to persevere in steadfast faith! Because when Jesus comes again, he wants to find that kind of unwavering faith existing on earth! He expects to find that kind of faith on earth! The question remains: Will he find it? And of course, the choice is up to us.
Gloria Patri