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Sermon by Ellen Francis, OSH |
Preached by Ellen Francis, OSH on Sunday October 21, 2007 St. Paul's, Chester NY
Jesus tells his disciples “To pray always and not to lose heart”. This gospel lesson speaks to me in a personal way, in relation to my own ministry of the past several years. I’d like to share a bit of that with you today.In the past, I’ve never been much of a peace activist. I used to go, occasionally, to demonstrations if someone else set everything up, but I’ve never been the initiator, or letter writer, or done much else. In the past few years, I’ve become much more active in trying to stop a war against Iran. This issue has become a real passion for me, and I’ve written, given talks, and led several delegations to Iran.
Last spring, I went to Washington to lobby along with a number of others who have also been on peace delegations to Iran. There were also many other peace activists there that weekend, and many, many others – each with their own agenda. I had my appointments lined up, and so I went, armed with my fliers and my list of talking points, and with a sense of power and hope. (Now that I had become a “peace activist” I had the idea (silly me) that people would actually listen). I met with the staff of elected officials, and they listened with varying levels of interest and varying levels of background knowledge of the issues. While all this was going on, I was feeling rather good about it, And I even had some optimism that the message was coming across. Then, as I was leaving, and walking towards the train station, I realized that I had only reached two out of 100 senators, and only a handful of NYS representatives. The House and Senate buildings, and especially the Supreme Court, seem designed to intimidate. I couldn’t help feeling quite small and insignificant and I wondered if all that work had done any good at all.
Since then, the war drums continue their beat. In recent weeks, there continue to be news reports that during the next year there may indeed be a military attack on Iran. I do occasionally feel that I would have good reason to “lose heart”. But the work continues, and I find that I continue to have a wellspring of passion for the issue.
It seems to me that in order to sustain ourselves in any ministry or service, we need to be as clear as we can be of why we’re doing it. Where is the passion around this issue? Why is this issue so important on a personal level? How can we pray about this work? What can we do to nourish that passion, and not let the fire go out?
One thing that nourishes me is connecting with others who share my passion and concern. Another thing that is really encouraging is to remember that there are many other people also working hard on this issue. I’m not carrying the burden alone, and I keep on praying. Jesus says “To pray always” and then he adds, “and not to lose heart”. So our ministry is founded on prayer. I really do believe in the “goose” theory of prayer, Which goes like this: when the geese fly in formation, there’s always one goose who is the leader and who flies at the leading point of the “V”. The others fly in the two wings of the “V”, and are swept along in the current created by the lead goose, and they honk and honk to encourage the lead goose. When the lead goose gets tired, he or she drops back and lets someone else take the lead. Prayer is like this, we can maintain our consistency and attention in prayer for a while, and then we may get distracted and start thinking about what’s for lunch, and someone else’s prayer will lead the way.
But perhaps the most powerful fuel for me comes in moments of silent prayer, when the possibility of peace is no longer limited by my own vision or by what I can accomplish. In those moments, the possibilities for peace and reconciliation seem endless, and open, and unquenchable, even inevitable. In those moments I have faith that God is truly in charge. And that, in the long term, all will be well.
Timothy’s letter says, “I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent…; and encourage, with the utmost patience…” (2 Tim 4:2) Jesus says, “Pray always and do not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). The persistence of the widow brings her cause to the judge’s attention. Her prayer for justice is the source and sustenance for her persistent action. Jacob also was persistent, and continued to wrestle with the angel, Even though he must have quickly realized that he had a formidable opponent. There is a stained glass window of Jacob and the angel, at GTS, placed where few people can see it, in the sacristy. It shows Jacob struggling mightily, while the angel has a beautiful face of compassion, and looks like he is gently embracing Jacob.
Mother Theresa said, “I do not pray for success; I ask for faithfulness”. That’s awfully hard to do, and I think I will still pray for “success”, in any way that I can understand and define it. But after all, it is God’s success that really matters and that will ultimately prevail. Perhaps, what matters most is for us to fulfill our work with whatever patience and persistence we can muster, and keep up the struggle, knowing that while we struggle, we are embraced by God. We can continue to use the gifts we have been given, with humility, and consistency, and perseverance, and – most difficult of all – without concern for the “success” of the project. “Pray always and do not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Prayer, then, is the foundation and source which can support and sustain all work and ministry. We come together in prayer and to receive nourishment at his table with his body and blood to sustain us on the journey and to transform us into His Body so that we may live in his grace and have faith in his mercy and love.