Do Not Be Afraid

Pentecost 19C Lectionary 29

October 16, 2022

Christ, Preston, MN

Luke 18.1-8; Genesis 32.22-31

I think that one of the hardest questions in the life of faith is why, if there exists a loving God, there is evil in the world. As Rabbi Kushner said in his famous book,  why “bad things happen to good people.” For those of you playing Theological Bingo at home, this is known as the problem of theodicy. Perhaps a similarly difficult question and even related to theodicy, is why God rarely answers our prayers and often remains silent. That was a struggle for the Apostle Paul who wrestled with his infamous “thorn in the flesh.” Paul asked God to remove that unknown affliction, but God remained silent. I’m guessing that many of you have similar experiences regarding illnesses, jobs, relationships and many other difficulties.

“Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.” Notice the word, “then,” which means our text for today follows something else. If we were to go back to the end of chapter 17, we’d hear Jesus talking about the coming kingdom of God, including the mysterious claim, “the kingdom of God is within you.” Why is this important? Well, it’s helpful to know that Luke writes to his community about 50 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. He writes to people who have experienced the temple’s destruction and wonder where God is in all of this confusion. They have expected Jesus’ return and are losing heart as they see what’s happening around them.

I would also guess that most of us spend little time wondering why Jesus hasn’t come back. Even so, we do wonder from time to time where God is in the world and we see little of Jesus’ presence. We might even be tempted to see God exactly like the unjust judge: vindictive and uncaring. But it’s as if Jesus is reading our minds because he quickly says that God is not like that. And because parables are provocative, (they provoke our thinking), we can entertain the idea that perhaps God is more like the widow who works on our hard hearts. Maybe prayer is designed to change us more than it is supposed to change God.

Dr. Samantha Meints and Rev. Dr. Marta Illueca are leading a research project that will help identify the types of prayer that are most helpful for folks with chronic pain. In doing so, they can better help people better cope with their pain. One of their initial findings is striking. When people pray for God to take away their pain, there is little or no benefit. But when they ask God for help to bear the pain, they are better able to cope with the pain. Prayer changes us.

When we lose heart in our prayer life, we become tired, despondent, and resigned to our situation. We lose our sense of purpose and get cranky. But when we pray like the widow, we have a purpose and clarity about what we are to be, and we are changed in the process. Praying with heart wears down our inner judge and makes us open to what God is doing in our lives. In the Genesis reading, Jacob wrestles with God until he receives a blessing, and he is changed forever, signified in his name change to Israel, one who strives with God. As Debie Thomas notes, God delights in those who dare to strive with him, because in doing so they keep hold of God tightly.

We’re in an uncertain time now, post-pandemic. You have said good-bye to your pastor, wondering what the future holds. Maybe some of you are even afraid that God won’t show up. My siblings in Christ, do not lose heart. Continue wrestling with God, expecting a blessing in return. Amen.

My sermons often preach a little differently than written and you can find the video here.