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Faith for The Journey Proper 23C October 14, 2007 The Rev. Jan Holland
I often describe life as a “Journey.” Sometimes the journey is predictable, yet more often it takes mysterious turns you never expect. Think for a moment about all the various factors that pulled together to bring you and me here to St. Stephen’s this morning. Maybe Church attendance is part of your weekly routine – a “Holy Habit” that starts you off on the right track every week, or perhaps your parents brought you and you’re too young to protest, or maybe you were scheduled to serve on the Altar Guild, or as an usher or a greeter, or to sing in the choir, or read the lessons, or lead the Prayers of the People, or serve at the altar carrying the cross or offering the bread and wine, or even to preach the sermon! There are many reasons for our journeys to have brought us together this morning. Perhaps a little faith is involved too.
Larry and I were talking about our journeys this week… sometimes one does that when approaching a birthday! Where were we 10 years ago? – I was the Interim Priest at Grace Episcopal Church in Glendora, and Larry was the Vicar of La Verne. And, how about twenty years ago? We had not yet met each other or attended Seminary! And twenty years from today, or ten? Only God knows!
On our journeys we experience joy and laughter, sadness and tears, triumphs and failures; and we learn. Life brings us challenges and setbacks; dreams that don’t work out; friends who disappoint us; and relationships that are strained. Life also brings us joy and wondrous surprises that carry with them new insight and understanding; moments of awesome beauty that cause us to pause in grateful appreciation of the miracle of life; and grandchildren and children who bring unexpected happiness to our lives.
One period is not better than another: rather each stage offers us an opportunity to grow in wisdom and deepen our connectedness to the world and to God.
In our Old Testament lesson today we heard part of the story of Ruth, a young Moabite woman. Did she know that her journey of courage, loyalty and faith would be chronicled in the Bible and told to every generation through the centuries? How could she have known that by choosing to leave her people and follow her mother-in-law Naomi into a foreign land (the land of Judah) she would marry a man named Boaz and give birth to a son named Obed? She only knew the loving kindness of a faithful woman and understood in her heart that they must continue their journeys together.
And now, thanks to the Gospel of Matthew, we know the rest of the story: Ruth’s son Obed became the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David. And the line of David’s genealogy traces down through the generations to Jacob, the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. So we tell the story of Ruth’s journey again this morning because Ruth is part of our story.
The gospel of Luke has something to say to people on a journey. Jesus himself is on a journey. Jesus is clear about whom he is and to whom he belongs. Luke tells us in no uncertain terms that Jesus has set his face toward the Holy City of Jerusalem and the events that will lead to his crucifixion. It is a difficult journey for Jesus and he sees what is waiting for him. But he knows God is with him and he doesn’t hold back or choose to take a detour. He chooses to go there for us.
On the way, Jesus heals the sick and teaches his followers about the life of discipleship. He talks about hospitality, welcoming and helping strangers, seeking lost sheep, visiting prisoners, lost coins, prodigal sons, the rich man, and Lazarus.
Then he says “If you cause anyone to sin, you may as well have a giant millstone tied around your waist and be thrown into the sea.” And you must rebuke others who sin, and forgive those who repent seven times a day. Is it any wonder the disciples cry out, "Increase our faith"? It’s only natural that they beg for more. “Give us more faith....Increase it, please, so we may be worthy to journey with you.” Even the disciples worry about being worthy.
How does Jesus answer them? He offers them two examples of faith… faith so small that it might otherwise go unnoticed. The first illustration we heard in last week’s Gospel, when Jesus said to them; “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed (the smallest of all seeds) your faith would be enough to uproot trees,” and in today’s Gospel reading Jesus offers the second example… a simple act of gratitude by a person considered unworthy to be a member of any society.
Today on their journey Jesus and his followers enter a small village where they are met by a wandering band of lepers. The lepers in today’s gospel story are an unusual group. They consist of Jews and Samaritans, two groups that didn’t mix in typical society. But misery and affliction had united them as they wandered in the wilderness between the region of Samaria and Galilee.
The lepers, who are considered unclean, approach Jesus from a distance and cry out to him saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Jesus looks on them with compassion and then orders them to “Go and show yourselves to the Priests.” As they go, they are all healed.
But one of them turns back – and he is a Samaritan. The one healed leper, the one – we may think – least likely to be thankful, makes a simple gesture of gratitude and faith. This Samaritan ‘realized’ what happened to him as he followed Jesus’ orders. His journey has taken him to an encounter with the “Holy” and he is changed. He knows what he must do and he returns to Jesus to praise God!
Never one to miss a teachable moment, Jesus turns to the disciples and asks, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
Once again Jesus challenges the accepted norms. As we journey with Jesus we realize there is still much to be learned. We remember the Samaritan Woman at the well. And now, this Samaritan Man, one of the unworthy ones, comes back to give thanks to our Savior?
The Samaritan became fully aware that he and all the others were cured as they walked away from their encounter with the man of God. But he knew it was not because he was particularly religious or deserving. As he realizes the amazing power of the healing then he knows what Jesus has done for him. Jesus wasn’t visibly traveling together with them on the road, but this one leper… feels the love of Jesus presence; experiences the healing of his own wounds and recognizes God’s saving grace. Jesus, the Christ, seen or unseen, was with him and had cured him, and will be with him forever.
There are times as we continue on our journeys when we become aware that we need healing and wholeness, and we can learn from the lepers to pray, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
Each Sunday we study the stories in the Bible of the extraordinary journeys of ordinary folk like Ruth and the unnamed Samaritan Leper, we learn how much God yearns for perfect healing to take place within each one of us – especially when we think we’re not worthy.
What did Jesus say to the leper, and what does he say to us when we come to him in prayer? He says, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” Your faith is your salvation and God knows where even a little faith can lead you.
Suppose just a “little faith” led you, and me, and all of us here this morning? Are we here to receive an invitation to encounter the “Holy”? Will we feel the presence of God’s love in one another? And in the communion of saints?
One thing is certain – this is the place to experience the healing of our wounds, and to give thanks for the awesome power of God’s saving grace!
Amen.