e-vo for week of October 16

Dearest e-votees-

1. Many of us aren't as prayerful as we would like to be or think we ought to be.

2. Many of us get discouraged when our prayers seem to go unanswered or are answered contrary to how our wisdom would dictate.

Jesus offers a parable about the importance of praying always and not losing heart. Perhaps this parable is for many of us as well.

Peace,
Karl

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1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ 4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Luke 18:1-8, NRSV

First things first, God is not particularly swayed by the frequency or the fervency of our prayers. We don't do prayers as a spiritual onslaught hoping to overwhelm God and get things moving our way by sheer force of will. Jesus teaches clearly that it is good to pray consistently (I believe “without ceasing” is how it is phrased in 1 Thessalonians 5:17) and without being discouraged. But this is not because God is hard of hearing or slow to respond.

The line of reasoning or rhetorical move is an argument from the lesser to the greater. If even A (which is clearly inferior) can manage this how much more will B do even so much more. Perhaps you've heard or said things like "You know, if your three year old brother can keep his room clean, certainly you should be able to as well." Jesus did the same sort of move in Luke 11:11-13:

11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Jesus argues that if this unjust judge who self-admittedly neither cares about God nor people but is willing to grant this nattering woman's request just to keep the peace then how much more will God desire to grant justice to this woman? Justice is coming to this woman and to all through the work, life, death and resurrection of the one telling the parable.

The truly cryptic part of the gospel lesson for this Sunday is verse 8b: And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

Jesus has come and will come again to bring justice and mercy to this world. This is decided but the possibility of faith being present or not seems to be still up for determination. What might be done in order to stir faith? Certainly we can't bring about faith through sheer force of will or willing suspension of disbelief. It comes through the work of the Holy Spirit. If we don't have the Holy Spirit to the measure we think we should perhaps we should ask our heavenly Father who gives good gifts to God's children. Perhaps this is some of what we should be praying for always. And since we know God will answer this prayer in the affirmative we don't lose heart. The answered prayer for the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit will surely not leave us bankrupt in the faith department.


God, continue to make us your children. We thank you for the good gifts you give us, particularly the Holy Spirit. Stir us to fervent and frequent prayer in response to your great love. Amen.