Faith Enough

10/5

Sunday morning Beverly Road

Walking up Beverly Road to church for World Communion Sunday.  After we read Psalm 133: 1-5, I start to sing 'By the Rivers of Babylon" by Boney M. And everyone starts to sing along!I realize we all were young then, when it first came out....we read the Gospel, and then its time for my reflection....

                                                                  Rivers of Babylon

So today is World Wide Communion Sunday. I want you to think about that. This morning, when we share the bread and cup, we will be doing so with brothers and sisters all around the world. All around the world. 

I'm jut back from Central America. Just got back last night. My spirit and soul still trying to catch up with my body. It's not easy. Part of me is still back down there in Nicaragua.  And Costa Rica. But today when we share our communion, I'll be sharing it with my brothers and sisters down there. And the people I spent the week with...Tracey in Managua and Chris in San Jose and Dennis in Phoenix and Linda in Chicago and Leslie in California and Douglass in Mississippi and Matt in North Carolina and Caroline in New Jersey...who are you sharing communion with this morning? Where are they? Bring their faces to your mind when we do that this morning. And my friend Chris with the troubled Korean congregation out in Bayside and my Guyana friends in Ozone Park...Presbyterian friends throughout this city...and around the world..they are all here with us...

Our gospel this morning raises an interesting question...and makes two good points. 

The question is this...how much faith is enough? The apostles want more...makes me wonder how much faith do you have? How much do I have? What does it feel like? Is it enough? How much do you need?

Jesus' answer is interesting. Jesus says all you need to have is that of a mustard seed and it is enough. Enough. Listen to what he is saying. There's no degrees of faith. You either have or you don't.  If you've even got a mustard seed's worth, that's enough.  Let's think about that. If you've got even a tiny little fingers worth, God can work with that. Mountains will be moved.

I first went to Nicaragua 40 years ago. The people  had just overthrown a vicious dictator. A new world seemed possible. Everything seemed possible. And we rejoiced in their faith and in what they had accomplished and we wanted to believe in their revolution. Like they were responsible to make my dream real.  

We went back because one of my elders who was part of that revolution asked us to. To see and hear and witness and come back and share. After 40 years, what do they have? A greatly divided country where neighbors can't speak to neighbors. Some still believe  in the government. No matter what it does. Others look at the corruption. And the violence. And the people who have left home and say "no more!" (Any of that sound familiar?)

And the President who has unleashed the troops on students has become an "apostle" of a neo-Pentecostal preacher. And his followers say he is doing God's will. I always felt they needed some presbyterian skepticism. That our tradition says that no party, no movement, no politician can ever be the full expression of the full will of God. All will  fall short. All will need to be held accountable and brought to critique. Remember that.That's who we are. 

I look at the and feel their tiredness and their weariness as they ask, "How many times do we have to live through this? How many times can we do this? Do I have the courage, the strength, to do this again? And I admire their courage...their strength their faith...and know if there is even a mustard seed's strength, they will win. 

But also perhaps remember, be careful what you put your faith in. Because the message is clear. Nothing human will ever fulfill all we expect it to.

But as he always does, Jesus has another point to make as well...all that business about slaves...what it comes down to is this...we want to raise up children...and each  other...to do what is right...not because of any potential reward, but because it is what we are supposed to do. 

The little french town of Le Chambon sur Lignon..during World War II..a Protestant town...our French cousins as it were...each family saved one Jewish family ...when they were invited to be honored, they declined. It was nothing special, only what they were supposed to be. When asked how they  could do it, pastor Trocme pointed to the inscription above the church door that said, "Little children, love one another" then said, "How could I see that every Sunday and not respond?" Just doing what we're supposed to do. 

Are we developing so that we can do what's right when the chips are down just because it's who we are? Can Beverley church be that?

Let's keep that in our minds this morning as we take our communion...amen...

After the  service is breaking of bread...this Sunday, Jamaican jerk chicken...I've still got a very full day ahead...

Back to Beverly

Gospel Luke 17:5-10

5The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 6The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

7"Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'? 8Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? 9Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have