October 7, 2007 at Saint Mark Church in Norman, OK
Habakkuk 1:2-3;22: 2-4 + Psalm 95 + 2 Timothy 1: 6-8, 13-14 + Luke 17:5-10
There is something about us all that always leads us to think that more is better and that what we have is not enough. That was the problem with the disciples in this Gospel story. These are the same disciples who when told to feed a crowd with five loaves and two fish insisted that they did not have enough. Instead of working with what they had, they thought they needed something from the outside: something more, something else, and something extra ordinary. But Jesus always sees more in his followers than they see in themselves and herein lies the message of this Gospel.
These disciples seem interested in quantity while Jesus is concerned with quality Very little faith is needed to accomplish extraordinary feats. There has been a great deal of interest and a lot of conversation in the media recently over some revelations about Mother Theresa and her confession of weak and struggling faith. What better example is there for this Gospel than the life of this little woman who thought she had doubts and weak faith?
Living in faith is about the obligation of service about the obligation that come with gifts. A believer is invited continually to move deeper and deeper into the being of the Giver, becoming what they are intended to be and doing what they are intended to do, making the power of that gift visible in their work and their being. This is what Jesus is teaching about here: the obligations of the one in service, not about the responsibilities of the one being served.
Getting the whole picture here challenges any idea of rewards and some kind of bonus for living as faithful disciples of Jesus. We are the ones to whom faith has been given. Therefore, we are the ones from whom faithful service is expected. We are sent to plow the field, tend the sheep and serve the table.
There are no special favors for those who fulfill their duty. There is no “extra credit” when the do what it is expected. This kind of thinking is foreign to the life in the Kingdom of God. We are simply being what we are meant to be and doing what they have been empowered to do by their faith.
The call to faith that Christ gives to us in these readings is not a promise of a life made free of challenges, obstacles, and burdens by the power of God. It is not a promise of life that always makes sense that is always marked by clear purpose and satisfaction. Rather, it is a call to keep at it, even when there is mystery, even when life does not make sense. It is a promise that precisely in that perseverance is the power of God. The power of God, after all, doesn’t always have to feel divine in order to be so. Faith works. It eases burdens, overcomes challenges, it gives life. Faith works, and often enough it is really the only thing that does. “Faith” in Scriptures really means something more like loyalty. Faith changes nothing outside of us. It changes everything inside of us. Faith is not about unaided human powers. It is about human abilities in league with divine intentions and activity. The astonishing power of Jesus is manifest not in spectacular displays of supernatural power, but in every act of forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, justice, and peacemaking this is far more impressive than transplanting trees into the sea!
This gospel gives hope to those who feel it is impossible to confront seemingly insurmountable obstacles posed by systems of injustice. People of faith who “stir into flame” the gifts God has given working together to eradicate those tangled roots of injustice, are doing exactly what they are commanded to do, no more, no less. It is by grace and by faith that such efforts can succeed.
It’s like this: We are under orders of God to bring about the Kingdom of God. Looking for rewards and thanks is not appropriate because it will continue the false idea that we are doing something beyond the ordinary and so have to be acknowledged and rewarded. We do not need more. We need confidence in what we have. What this simply means is: service as usual. If we do not know what we have, we cannot use it to make happen what we want to make happen. He kept telling people they had the tools to live in the Kingdom of God. Mustard sized faith is enough. Why do we always want more?