Day of the Church Year: 17th Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture Passage: Luke 17:5-10
We have probably all been there sometime in our lives. The alarm goes off bright and early. We set it the night before so we could exercise. We had read and heard and been told by our doctor that exercise is good for us, the silver bullet in terms of health and well-being. We have listened to friends and neighbors and family members say in the midst of difficulty, “At least I have my health.” We agree that we want to care for our health. We want to live to see our grandchildren graduate from high school. We want to enjoy retirement. Or simply, we want to feel good. Yet when the alarm goes off bright and early, we press snooze and convince ourselves that it’s quite alright to skip exercising today. Exercise is easier in theory than practice.
As Jesus followers, we have probably all been there. A co-worker or a family member, a neighbor or another church member wrongs us. As Jesus followers, we know forgiveness is what Jesus teaches. For years, we have listened to sermons on forgiving others seventy times seven times. We have advised others, perhaps our children, to forgive those who hurt them. We have read and seen stories of radical forgiveness, how powerful it is when a survivor forgives a perpetrator of violence. But when someone wrongs us, all of those good intentions to forgive now seem impossible, unjust, and even silly. Forgiveness is easier in theory than in practice.
Just prior to today’s Jesus teaching, the apostles—the twelve who are normally called the disciples in Matthew, Mark, and John but apostles in Luke—receive instruction about forgiveness. It’s a seldom read passage where Jesus says: “If the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive.” It’s directly after these words that the apostles cry out “Increase our faith!” It’s only after they hear these very specific instructions about how to put their faith in motion that the apostles cry out, “Increase our faith!” Apparently, they do not believe they possess enough faith to forgive someone seven times a day. Jesus waxes eloquent about faith the size of a mustard seed yet doesn’t seem to respond to their request. Instead, he reminds them, strangely, of the common master-slave dynamic of the first century. Is a slave thanked for doing what is commanded? No, of course not. Per Jesus’ command, the apostles should then confess: “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!”
Instead of Jesus saying, “Yes, apostles, you are right. You need more faith. Here ya go,” instead of Jesus just handing over faith like a wrapped gift, Jesus extols the apostles to do what he has commanded. To forgive the same person seven times a day. To also care for and enter into relationship with those most vulnerable as we heard in last week’s parable. To welcome sinners and eat with them. To pick up their cross and follow Jesus. To practice humility. To witness Jesus’ ministry and to go and do likewise. In doing what Jesus commands, their faith will increase.
For faith is practice, not theory. We might feel short on faith. We might be filled with doubt. We might have lots of questions. We might wonder if we have the right answers about God. We might be preoccupied with what we believe in our heads about God. But today, Jesus indicates that faith is practice, not theory. And our faith grows when we practice the acts of one who follows Jesus. Faith is not handed to us like a wrapped gift but is born in us through practice—and honestly, quite often through struggle.
At GLOW, Grace Lutheran On Wednesdays, this fall, we are reading poetry alongside scripture, and this past week, we read the poem “Fear” by Kahlil Gibran and read the story of Jesus walking on the water and Peter trying to walk on the water from Matthew. One of the messages of the poem is how we must face our fears just like Peter faced his fear by getting out of the boat. In our discussion of fear and courage, Cecil talked about the first time he had to face a particular fear. He said, the next time he encountered a fear of that same magnitude, facing it was easier than it had been the first time. That as he faced his fears again and again, his capacity to face his fears also increased.
I think the same is true of faith…and of exercise. 😊 Once we get started, once we practice forgiveness, once we get serving, once we begin to love others regardless, forgiveness, service, and love become easier. Once we get up and exercise three days a week every week for three months, suddenly, it’s not so hard. Thanks be to God! Faith is not something God plants in our hearts in Holy Baptism only for it to remain there un-practiced all the days of our lives. The mustard seed of faith God gifts us begins with childlike trust in the grace and love of God but grows as we put our faith in motion. Without the nurture of action, faith can stagnate. When we cry out, “Increase our faith!” Jesus says, “Follow me.”
If today we, like the apostles, worry that our faith is not enough, rest assured, we have already received a mustard seed of faith in baptism. Now, we go and follow Jesus. Thanks be to God. Amen.