Persistence

Luke 18:1-8

 

        One of the first theological lessons I had to learn was God is not Santa Claus. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? We could just make our list, check it twice, and then wait for God to somehow make our wildest dreams come true. But we all know that is not the case. I can’t tell you how often I’ve had folks ask me to pray for their particular situation. When hard times, especially health emergencies arrive, we want God to address of our pain. Prayer is a powerful tool. It gives us comfort. It invites the praying community to share in our anxiety. But often the outcome we experience is not the outcome we desired. Does this mean we should not be persistent in our prayer life? HEAVENS NO! But perhaps there are other parts of our faith where we should exhibit an equal amount of persistence.

        In 1986 I met the woman mentioned in our New Testament text. She lives in Mexico City. Months earlier her capital city had undergone a horrific earthquake. Even today we have no idea how many people lost their lives, either because of the destruction or the health crisis that followed. Mexico City is an area that has consistently built housing skyward despite the knowledge that the city sits on the Middle American Trench. Over 4,000 multistoried buildings were destroyed. Another 12,000 were declared uninhabitable. No one could even begin to estimate the number of displaced people. Sophia Morales was one of those people. Her building was declared unsafe. She and her family were placed on the streets to fend for themselves. Unlike thousands of others displaced, she began to pray. And much to the discomfort of the mayor of Mexico City, she did more than just fall on her knees.

        Many of the first responders to the earthquake were rescue workers from Germany and Canada. They initially came with food and medical supplies but also promised building supplies for those who were able to rebuild. Sophia organized the families from her building and together they approached the aid workers. The families were told if the government would either demolish the building or give them land on which to build, materials needed to rebuild would be forthcoming. But the families would have to do the actual building. This immediately discouraged many folks. Sophia’s group dwindled to five families.  But that is all it took.

        For five consecutive months, six days a week, Sophia and a member of her group went to the mayor’s office with one goal in mind, ask the mayor for a small piece of land. After their initial contact with the mayor it was a month before they saw him again. But they saw someone from his office each day. At first they were told the mayor was looking for land. In the second month they were told there were too many folks with similar requests. During the third month they were escorted from the Federal Building daily. By the fourth month they were told to be patient. And then in February, five months after the earthquake, the mayor announced land had been found. The next day the five families and any of the original families who wanted to join them began to clear the land. When I met with Sophia and her group in April, the group had completed the structure for the first floor and was starting on the second story. The unit included space for eight families.

        When Sophia had concluded her story, I asked what held the five families together. “That is easy. These were the families from our Bible study group. We formed it over two years ago. We used to meet three nights a week. Since the earthquake we have met every night. This is what gives us hope. When the earthquake hit we were in the midst of a study on the book of Luke. When the workers from Canada and Germany promised us supplies we had just read about the widow who pestered the wicked judge to death. We thought to ourselves, “We will be the widow.” Our studies taught us that God is not only a God of love; God is a God of justice. As long as we were faithful, we knew our mayor never stood a chance.”

        I often think about Sophia Morales. I think about her when I see folks in Haiti trying once again to rebuild their nation. I have been to Haiti. They are a very religious people who daily turn to the scriptures for inspiration.  I believe they will rebuild no matter what nature and government institutions continue to throw in their direction.

        I think of Sophia Morales when I hear the dreadful stories coming out of Chicago. I continue to hear one group making inroads into the lives of young people in the inner city of Chicago is the Black Church.

        I think of Sophia Morales every time I hear a young person quote the words from Maya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise.”  I heard Maya speak once and she said it was not the God of conformity but the God of the Bible, the God of Justice that gave her the voice to speak against the sexual abuse she had received as a child.

        Leaving behind the nights of terror and fear,

                I rise,

        Into a daybreak that is wondrously clear,

                I rise,

        Giving the gifts my ancestors gave,

Into hopes and dreams of the slave,

                I still rise.

 

        We all should think of Sophia Morales every time we dare to pick up a Bible and read. We should remember the Bible is a book designed for those who are persistent in their search for truth, for justice and for hope. It is a book that often seems ancient, until read persistently, and then we discover something as fresh and inspiring as anything our eyes have ever encountered. It is a book that seems impossible, until read persistently, and then we discover a pathway through the most harrowing mountains. It is a book that seems too rigid, until read persistently, and then we discover the inflexibility was our own unwillingness to consider a message based on mercy, justice and grace.

        Taking the Bible seriously build homes where no home could be imagined.

        Taking the Bible seriously erects hope where hope had been all but forgotten.

        Taking the Bible seriously celebrates justice for those without influence or power.

        Taking the Bible seriously is a dangerous endeavor for the wicked, a foolish endeavor for the lazy and a hopeless endeavor for the satisfied. But here it sits, waiting to be opened, waiting to be read, waiting to be digested, waiting to give inspiration to more than just Sophia Morales.

        I know all of you believe in prayer. I feel it in our joys and concerns every Sunday morning. But I am not so sure all of us have fully encountered the Word of God. I invite you to take a chance. Pick one book and make the pledge to read it slowly and persistently through the next 30 days. I might suggest you start with one of the Gospels. Maybe you prefer the Psalms. Some might want to start with Genesis. I don’t care. I just want you to read slowly and persistently. If you want to talk about what you have read, come by and see me. What have you got to lose? Sophia and others can tell you what you have to gain.       To God be the Glory. Amen.