Luke
18:1-8
I want to set aside all the
techniques and tricks associated with preaching a sermon and say one thing with
as much clarity as I possibly can: In
this parable, Jesus is not placing God in a parallel position to the unjust
judge. There are no shared traits between
the two and the parable does not imply one.
The only reason Jesus speaks of this unjust judge is so we can see that
contrary to his nature and attitude he finally does what it is that God is
prepared to do from the very beginning.
Look at verse 7: “Will not God grant justice to his chosen
ones who cry to him day and night? Will
(God) delay long in helping them?”
Jesus’ encouragement to pray always
and not lose heart is not rooted in a fear that God is only sometimes listening
or has to be worn down through pesky persistence. It is Jesus encouragement to continue to
pray, even when we fail to “find faith on earth”. Jesus tells us not to lose heart, even when
it seems as if there are far too many unjust judges who continue to stand in
the way of God’s hope and vision for life on earth.
Have I said this with sufficient
clarity? Anyone still unable to hear
Jesus’ words? If anyone is having
difficulty, it is most likely as a result of some exchange in your past in
which you were allowed to think that the number of prayers or the repetitions
in petitions or the spiritual purity of the person praying make some difference
in God’s response. Shame on anyone who
told you this or any preacher who preached this! Again, that is why the unjust judge is in
this parable. So we will quickly
recognize that God operates differently.
God operates much differently. The
Lord (does) keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and
forevermore.
This is most certainly true – but
it might not feel this way. There are
many instances in which the way of God is hindered. There are multiple examples of God’s Word
being ignored. And while the Law of
Moses makes it clear how we are to treat others, that law is broken over and
over and over again.
The widow in this morning’s reading
can be Example A.
This legitimacy of woman’s case is
not the issue. The problem is the one to
whom she must make her appeal. By this
man’s own admission, he has no fear of God or respect for anyone. He just doesn’t care. He is flagrant in his failure to abide by the
standards of justice for which he now serves as judge. In the laws of the Jews, widows are given a
special place. It is called a
“preferential treatment.” It means their
claims are to be advanced beyond their merit.
Widows (and orphans) are to be treated differently; be treated better.
This was obviously not happening in
the “certain city” Jesus speaks of in his parable. An unjust judge sat in the judgement seat and
that judge took his motivation from something other than the Word of God.
Seeing this, perhaps realizing how
true this was in far too many cities, the followers of Jesus could easily begin
to lose heart. Why would they bother to
pray? Why should we trust in God - when
all around us deception and corruption and self-advancement are winning the day? They may have been prepared to answer to
Jesus’ question as to whether the Son of Man would find faith on earth when he
returns. The evidence. Their life experiences. Suggested the answer may very well be “No.” There are too may unjust judges, and too few
able to put them in their place.
But, thankfully, there are some
pesky widows, emboldened by Jesus’ admonitions, and they won’t leave alone
those who would deny the justice of which God speaks.
I want you to look at verse 5. You sports fans will be delighted to hear
that there is a sports metaphor here which has been lost in the translation to
English. The encounter, in its original
tongue, makes use of a boxing metaphor. See that phrase, wear me out? A better translation would be “give me a
black eye.” This judge is worried that
this pesky little widow might land a right hook. Pesky; feisty; not easily dismissed - this
representative of Jesus’ disciples will not allow those who disregard God
disregard the call for God’s will to be done.
The God who is more ready to listen than we are to pray sends among us
those who will not be silent or silenced.
God hears our prayers and does not
delay long in helping. If there doesn’t
seem to be evidence of this in the places where we live, maybe it because the
pesky/feisty followers of Jesus have abandoned the things for which Jesus has
taught us to pray.
There is rarely a week when our
congregational prayers fail to mention the beauty of creation and our
appreciation for all that God has made.
And yet, our prayers are quickly forgotten when we have reason to
discuss environmental protection or global warming agreements.
Every Sunday we ask God to bless
and care for the homeless. Then, during
the week, we are silent as refugees are denied entry and deported.
Christians love to feed the
hungry. But questioning why the poor
have no bread is considered “political” and off limits on a Sunday morning.
We pray for the sick and those who
care for them and then ignore opportunities to provide universal health care.
The parable Jesus tells is very
clear – this woman is seeking justice.
“Justice” may have been the last thing this unjust judge wanted to
see. Justice is quite often avoided or
skirted or denied by those who have no fear of God nor respect for others.
God will not turn a deaf ear. God stands ready to see that justice is meted
out. Some of Jesus’ followers will lose
heart, precisely because they see the creative and crafty ways that justice is
avoided.
But we know not to worry. When the Son of Man comes he will find faith
on earth. The Son of Man will find faith
in us. And he will see how that faith
has motivated us to advocate for a living wage for all workers and a full stop to any
tolerance of gun violence.
The unjust judges are among
us. And in too many instances they sit
in the judge’s seat. But among us too
are pesky widows insisting that governing norms do give preferential treatment
to the least among us. God bless you +,
in your faithful service to God. Lift
your prayers and do not lose heart as you live out the baptismal calling to see
that God’s will is not only done on earth is being done by you.
Amen.
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