Key Verse: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
- Colossians 3:17
We’ve all seen it—you’re at Target or the grocery store and you see a parent there with a child. The child is holding a toy or a candy bar in their hands and they are looking at mom or dad, saying, “Please! Please can I have this? Please?” There were many times growing up that I was this child. Sometimes I was successful and sometimes I wasn’t, but I always had to try…and I could be very persistent.
I remember one time when I was 7 or 8 and I saw a set of toy horses that I knew I needed to have. I picked up the box and asked my mom with my puppy dog eyes all ready. She said no. Please, Mom? I really like it. Not today. I knew my chances wouldn’t be good if I frustrated her, so I quietly held onto the box and followed my mom as she continued her shopping.
We go to the cleaning aisle to get some supplies, and I am quick to help my mom grab whatever she wants because maybe if I’m helpful she’ll buy the horses. Hey Mom, will you buy the horses if I promise to clean my room when we get home? She tells me that is my responsibility anyway.
In the next aisle a woman drops something on the floor. I quickly (and sneakily) put the toy horses into our cart and I rush forward to pick up the object from the floor to give back to the lady. She says thank you and tells me I am very kind. I make eye contact with my mom to make sure she heard. I go back to my mom and put my hand on the box of horses still sitting in the cart. Hey Mom, I bet that lady would want me to have the horses. My mom rolls her eyes.
Our shopping trip continues and I ask a few more times. She is still saying no but I can see I am wearing her down. Finally at the checkout—victory! We bought the toy horses. Persistence won the day.
Persistence comes in all shapes and forms. There is the persistence of flowing water which has the power to cut rock and form the land around it. The Grand Canyon, for example, took five or six million years to form, but the rivers flowing through it have made something pretty remarkable.
Think of the persistence of an artist or a craftsman who spends hours upon hours on their work, pouring all of their passion into it. Then there is the persistence of an inventor like Thomas Edison—he failed hundreds and hundreds of times but he finally got that lightbulb to work. I am also reminded of the persistence of my cat who meows each morning to let me know when it is time to wake up—and trust me, she can’t be ignored for long! Her meowing can be quite persuasive. And then—and possibly most importantly—there is the kind of persistence that demands justice and change, and it is this kind of persistence that we find in our Gospel reading today.
In our Gospel today Jesus tells the story of a persistent widow who comes to a judge day after day demanding action for injustice she has experienced. At first the judge ignores her—he could care less about her and her problems—but over time the widow wears him down and finally he gives her what she wants. In the society in which this widow lives, she is in a vulnerable and marginalized position. As a widow she has little power and little rights, and yet she insists that the judge hear her voice. She isn’t backing down because she believes in what she is doing, and she is rooted in faith that she will receive justice if she keeps working at it.
This kind of persistence is powerful and it can bring about great change. Take a look at history and you will find people in all times and places who stand up in persistence for justice. Think of the ancient prophets who cried out for justice in the Old Testament. Jesus reached out to the marginalized and brought them into community. Martin Luther pointed out injustices he saw in the church of his time. Centuries later, Martin Luther King Jr. persisted in his quest for civil rights. Mahatma Gandhi persisted for justice and independence in India. Malala persists for the education for women. Greta Thunberg calls out for environmental justice. The list goes on.
What these people all have in common is that this kind of persistence—the kind of persistence toward justice that serves all people—is sacred. All of these people are putting their faith, their passions, their hopes and dreams for the world—their whole selves—into their persistent drive toward justice in its many forms. These people may or may not be religious in their own ways, but when I look at the drive and passion with which they work to bring justice, I see God at work. Whether they recognize it or not the Holy Spirit is at work in them and in all that they do.s
As Christians who believe in the power of God’s work in the world, we each have this same driving Spirit within each of us. Scripture tells us that each one of us is created in the Image of God and given gifts that equips up for ministry and life in the world. And then through our baptism each one of us is gifted with the Holy Spirit and we are called to use our gifts and passions to partner with God in ministry. This is such a unique and powerful gift! With these gifts I think what God is saying is, “I love you SO MUCH, and I believe in your value SO MUCH, that I want YOU to be able to play your part in the world. Go forth and be the best blessing you can be.” How can we pass up an opportunity like that?
Take a moment to think about how God has called you. What gifts do you have—and trust me, you do have some! What are your passions? If you are passionate about the environment, how can you use your gifts to help others care for the earth? If you are passionate about caring for children, what are you doing to nurture the next generation? If you are passionate about music, how do you use music to connect people together? I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
Or, think the other way. What injustices do you see in the world? What breaks your heart the most? If it bothers you that your workplace doesn’t recycle, what can you do to help change that? If a local law is unjust, are you going to speak up? For me, for example, it breaks my heart when I think about people who struggle with mental illness and feel alone. I don’t think anyone should feel alone, so I am going to do what I can to do something about it. That is one way I feel God is calling me.
Whatever it is, big or small, find something you care about and do something about it. Chances are there is a community of people who care about it too. Faith Lilac Way is an example of this. FLW saw hunger in the community, so we do our part to support local food shelves and pack meals for students and their families. Faith Lilac Way saw that there were children being exploited in our community, so we became involved with Cherish All Children. We see people around the world suffering from natural disasters so we work with the ELCA Disaster Response, and we tie blankets for kids at Camp Noah who are recovering from disasters. All of this work is sacred because it is the Holy Spirit driving us in our passions and in our efforts. And if you have an idea or a passion that you aren’t sure how to use, let’s talk about it! I want to hear it. Let’s dream of the possibilities and let’s open the door to see how God might move!
Now, if you’ve reached this part of the sermon and you are thinking, “This is too much to do, I can’t fix the world!”—then I want you to hear this next part. Being created and equipped by God does not mean that we are perfect or can do it all. We will have times when we make mistakes and doubt ourselves, and there will be times when we fail. There will be moments when we are discouraged or wonder if our effort really makes a difference. Imagine how the widow in our Gospel must have felt going to the judge day after day. Yet she didn’t give up, she got up the next morning and tried again. It is important to remember that the fate of the world does not rest on our shoulders—it is God who has already secured the ending. We don’t have to do it all and we don’t have to do it perfectly, but in the meantime God has created and equipped each of us to be a part of this world.
Every day you are given the chance to use your time, gifts, talents and resources to touch the people around you and help make your community a better place. In your work place, in your family, in the retirement community—wherever you find yourself—you have the chance to use your gifts, passions and resources to the glory of God. Be persistent in kindness, persistent in faith, persistent in prayer, and whatever you do, do it to the glory of God. Thanks be to God. Amen.
- Vicar Joanna Kathol