Persistence!

Luke 18:1-8

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of all of our hearts be acceptable to you Lord God, our rock and redeemer, amen.

Good morning. I am so happy to with all the good folk of Atonement and excited to be preaching a Word with you all today. A little about me is that I am the Common Ground pastoral intern this year, and I live in Downingtown with my spouse and our three cats. We moved up here from Virginia when I started attending United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia.

My wife and I are cat people. We recently adopted two of the cats after a friend died this past spring and have had a pretty steep learning curve of what it’s like going from one cat household to three. If you caught me in conversation since June and asked me how I am doing, I inevitably have equated how I’m doing to how the cats are doing. We have had to divide the house into territories for everyone to get along, split our time between the cats, and get used to new feeding schedules. If there is a lesson I have learned in the past four months, it is the persistence of cats. 

Clio, an absolute pain, digging into an empty cat food bag (this is not a paid advertisement!).

Particularly when they’ve decided they are ready for food. If we are anywhere close to their feeding time – like within four hours of dinner time - and get up from our desk or happen to walk into the kitchen, there is no end to the meowing from the two new cats. They will constantly rub against our legs and meow and follow us around the house starting around 3:30 in the afternoon some days despite not getting fed until sometime after six and I promise they have never missed a meal. It’s a real treat. And every time I look into their sweet little faces and just know they think we are being unjust. Why wouldn’t we just feed them? All of this could be over if we just put a little kibble in their bowls and let them snack. Don’t we know that they are just wasting away while we stretch out the time until it’s time for food? Sometimes I do not think I have known persistence as well illustrated in my daily life as I do the hope that lives in our cats’ little faces every time I stand up.

Minnie and Clio, pacing at my feet waiting for me to set their food bowls down.

Persistence is a key theme in our gospel this week; Jesus is telling his disciples a story to illustrate how we should be persistent in prayer. And then he goes on to talk about a widow who will not leave a certain judge alone. This judge doesn’t fear God or respect the people around him. But this widow will not leave him alone and finally the judge relents in her case. 

On our first read through, this could be read as a celebration of Women’s persistence over time. Like Elizabeth Cady Staunton or Ruth Bader Ginsburg or Malala Yousafzai or Angela Davis, Marsha P Johnson or bell hooks. When we pray – like the widow, perhaps we too shall move mountains. 

Another way to read this parable is as a re-definition of prayer. Greek Scholar Mark Davies: Prayer is not simply us talking to God, but it is any expression of a demand for justice. (for instance In The Hobbit, one is reminded that the word “pray” is not simply a religious term. When Bilbo continually asks forgiveness for offending Thorin upon their first encounter, Thorin finally answers wearily, “Pray, don’t mention it.” The word “pray” – in its widest definition – is simply a plea from one to another.) 

The plea for justice is often wearying and seems futile, because the powers that be often act with immunity – as if there is no moral order to the universe and as if there is no respect that one ought to have for humanity. if we pray without working for justice – then it’s just empty words. If we do justice without prayer & faith, we center ourselves in the imperative work of justice rather than centering Christ. Then when justice isn’t done, it leads to despair and lack of hope. However, persistence can be effective even in advocating for justice. In this sense, “prayer” would indicate not just our cries to God but also our ministry in this community here matters. There will be vindication of the true and just and there will be a slow, persistent journey of raising one’s voice over and over again. 

Now, I think we can all hope that our prayers are not being lifted to a God who we view as the unjust judge. Jesus say that God will not delay in granting the widows request for justice. If we did view God as the judge in this parable, I think there would be some trouble then in how we viewed prayer to God as some sort of transactional exchange. If we are the widow and persistent enough to have our prayers answered, what happens when they are not answered? Are our prayers not meaningful enough for God? Are we not persistent enough to have God’s with us? That’s not true. Each of us is beloved by God through Jesus. The truth is, when God is the judge, God does not delay long in helping. So what does that look like?

So what does that leave us with? Why would Jesus be telling the disciples this parable and why was it important enough for the Gospel writer to write down?

Our parable pivots at the end – and Jesus makes this curious statement about faith. He says “I tell you, God will quickly grant justice to them (those who cry to God day and night). And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

While we are on earth, when we look to earthly justice – sometimes the world is the unjust judge. And perhaps it is the Son of Man, Jesus, who comes and persistently cries for justice to us. But the despair of falling into compassion fatigue, burnout from over work over stress has taken a grip on so many. As author Debie Thomas writes – the truth is, the judge lives in each of us, and if the parable this week has anything to offer, it is that prayer alone will wear down our inner judge.

The inner judge that says I have nothing to offer. The inner judge that lifts up our woundedness, fear, shame, inattentiveness, rather than our faith and hope in God finds us falling short. The inner judge that separates us from the love of God through Christ – who persists for us. Thank God we have a loving savior who will not quite on us. Who will continue to reach out a hand to us – to listen to prayer and bring us hope, love, compassion and grace rooted in the persistent symbol of a cross in our lives.

So yes, God is the ultimate judge who will not delay on our behalf. God is a just judge who will always listen to our cries. But God is also that persistent widow, coming up beside us in the most unexpected ways to remind us of how very loved we are. Giving us a persistent reminder to pray so we can soften our hearts, not be like the unjust judge that humanity can so easily turn to – and instead open ourselves to the work of the God’s Grace in the world. Through daily reminders. It might be a cat reminding you it’s dinner time. But the reminder to persist in faith and love and grace and hope can be found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Symbolized by the cross and an empty tomb. 

What we are left with at the end of the parable is this question. When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?  Faith that persists? This is the question that matters. Will Jesus find such faith in us? May it be so and may we persist in prayer that seeks justice with Christ.

Amen.