Father Gary’s Sermon

Inspired from Luke 18:1-8

Proclaimed on October 17, 2004

The story goes that there was a pastor whose parish was in much need of some money. On a particular Sunday morning he asked his congregation to consider being “more than just generous.” He then made them a proposition that whoever responded to his plea with the most money would be allowed to pick three of their favorite hymns. Following the offertory the pastor glanced down and immediately noticed that someone had put a thousand dollar bill into one of the plates. He was so excited by what he saw that he instantly told his congregation. He said that he would especially like to personally thank the “saint” who had made the contribution. An elderly woman--a widow in the back of the church--shyly raised her hand. The pastor asked her to come to the front of the church, so she slowly made her way toward him. He told her how wonderful it was that she had given so much, and in appreciation, he asked her to pick out three hymns. Her eyes brightened as she looked out over the congregation. She then pointed to the three best-looking men and declared, “I’ll take him, and him, and him!”

Either this little lady did not understand what her pastor was offering or she had a great deal of chutzpah. If it were the latter then she was not all that different from the widow in our Gospel reading this morning. During this time Jesus tells the story of a widow in need of justice from an unjust judge. In the Hebrew culture of that time it was not expected that a judge remain objective or impartial. Rather any judge was always an elder of the community who served on a panel with other elders or judges. Usually the plaintiff appointed one of these elders, another was appointed by the defendant, and a third was independently selected. This system was designed to protect the innocent, weak, and the helpless, and none fit this category better than a widow. However, in this story told by Jesus, this was clearly not the legal system in place. The judge in this story was probably a paid magistrate of Herod or a Roman official under Pilate’s authority. These judges had the reputation of neither fearing God nor caring about the people. Their verdicts were often determined by bribes, therefore earning them the nickname of “robber” judges. Apparently, the widow in this story was not getting the justice she needed. So according to Jesus she nagged at this unjust judge day and night. She was persistent, so much so that the judge complained that she exhausted him. The Greek word that the judge used for “exhaust” literally meant, “to give one a black eye.” It is a term often used in reference to boxers, a term which clearly revealed her persistence, and ultimately won for her the case. Like the woman choosing her “hims,” this woman had chutzpah, something that Jesus seemed to admire.

The context in which Jesus told this story, however, was about praying the Hebrews were a small part of the greater Roman Empire. They were decided minority, as was the Christian community during the time of the early Church. Often they were persecuted; rarely did they expect justice from the Roman authorities. So Jesus told his disciples that if they wanted justice then they would have to persistently pray for the Kingdom of God. If this evil judge who did not fear God eventually heard this woman and granted her justice, how much more will our Heavenly Father hear our strong and persistent pleas?! In essence, when we pray Jesus encourages us to approach God with chutzpah!

What is the secret, however, to having such chutzpah? The Reverend Tom Webster shared an interesting story that may provide us with some insight. It is the story of a curious young man who went to visit an elderly monk in the desert. He saw the monk sitting outside his home enjoying the sun with his dog lying lazily at his side. The spiritual seeker asked, “Why is it that some people who follow God quit after a year or so, while others remain faithful to the quest for a lifetime?” The old man smiled and replied, “Let me tell you a story. One day I was sitting here quietly in the sun with my dog. Suddenly a large, white rabbit ran across in front of us. Well, my dog jumped up, barking loudly, and took off after that big rabbit. He chased the rabbit over the hills with a passion. Soon other dogs ran barking across the creeks, up stony embankments, and through thickets and thorns! Gradually, one by one, the other dogs dropped out of the pursuit, discouraged by the course and frustrated by the chase. Only my dog continued to hotly pursue the white rabbit. In that story, young man, is the answer to your question.” The young man sat in confused silence. Finally, he asked, ”Okay, what is the connection between the rabbit chase and the quest of following God?” The old monk answered, “You fail to understand because you failed to ask the obvious question. The question is why didn't the other dogs continue the chase?  And the answer to that question is that the other dogs had not seen the rabbit. They were attracted by the barking of my dog. But once you see the rabbit, you will never give up the chase.”

Chutzpah is in part, therefore, about having the kind of relationship with God that is personal and very trusting. It is very much like our first reading this morning about the patriarch Jacob and his spiritual battles. Jacob was a liar, a conniver, and perhaps even a thief. And in the story told in the reading this morning, Jacob was at the very end of his rope, and he knew it. In front of him was his brother whom he had cheated out of a birthright, coming toward him with an army. Behind him was his father-in-law Laban, also a cheat, but whom Jacob got the best of. Jacob’s sins had caught up with him. Justice was about to occur. Jacob’s life was on the line. At the crossing of the important river Jabak, Jacob sat on its banks at night praying to the God of his fathers. Suddenly an angel appeared unto Jacob, and like the widow who exhausted the judge by giving him a figurative black eye, Jacob wrestled with this angel throughout the night, and refused to release it even with the coming of the morning light. The angel asked Jacob to release it, but Jacob was persistent and would not let go until he received what he wanted. The angel gave him what he desired, and this God who had been the Divinity of his forebears was now his personal God. But in the process, Jacob was wounded, a wound from which he would suffer until he died, but a wound that changed him for the better. So what is this story saying to us? Simply that we should indeed pray persistently, but fully knowing that such prayer is going to change us. Persistent prayer, praying with chutzpah, will indeed bring us the Kingdom of God, but it will also transform us in the process.

The main point then is that we pray until we have an answer from God and nothing less. Praying should never be a one-way conversation. God will answer. It may simply be a “yes,” “no,” “wait,” or even “or you sure?” But Chutzpah is waiting no matter what until the answer is received. But beware of the answer! Like Jacob, it may transform you!