Sermon for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost (10-19-25)
The association between faith and prayer seems pretty natural to many people. But even so, I actually find prayer to be one of the trickiest of the theological concepts we have to contend with. Sure, most people can tell you what prayer is: it's asking God for something, right? But as soon as we begin to see prayer as a cosmic ATM card (and, therefore, God as a cosmic ATM) it becomes much harder to keep the theological boat afloat - or - at least afloat with a loving God at the helm. And this is for one simple reason: sometimes, we don't get what we ask for. And in all truth, we often get things we don't ask for and would rather not have.
Jesus' parable in today's gospel reading is one of those lessons that makes sense as long as you don't look too hard at it. But, it's important to note that in Luke's account of the gospel, Jesus often spins these stories in ways that include characters and behaviors that say something about God - even if they don't represent God or God's general character.
So, to associate the judge's character with God's is to miss the point. Rather, Luke is trying to point toward the persistence of the widow in asking for what she needs. Emphasis on need vs. want here. It's not that - like the judge - God has no respect for anyone, but rather this parable is saying "if this persistent woman can get even a morally compromised judge to give her what she needs, how much more will God - who is good and loving - give to those who ask for what they need?"
And thus we identify the genesis of the Gospel according to the Rolling Stones : You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you just might find you get what you need.
The eighteenth chapter of Luke's gospel, where we find today's parable, is about three quarters of the way through the story. By this time Jesus is on his fateful trip back to Jerusalem where he knows something important is about to happen. Where he knows something is about to change for his followers and for the whole world. More and more frequently Jesus has been speaking about "the end" and "the next age" and "coming of the kingdom". And understandably some people are starting to get a little anxious, because people still believe that the deliverance that their Messiah will bring will be carried out by a mighty military figure. One who will crush their oppressors and free them for good. But, Jesus knows the salvation of the world won't be through might. It will be through self-sacrificial love. The time to come will be challenging, and Jesus is trying to prepare his followers for that reality.
One commenter put it plainly: "prayer is part of living between the times".1 And maybe it's because of where we find ourselves these days - what times we're in between - but that hit a bit differently for me. "Prayer is part of living between the times." In a world that's impulsive and thrashing around to find any sense of security and fulfillment, we as followers of Christ - of the Way as the earliest Christians called it - are called to be measured and mature in our living and being in this world. Called to dig down deeper to the loving roots of our faith even when those who also claim the name of Christ act with belligerence and distain for others. We're called to be made of better stuff than what a godless world offers. And more often than not prayer is our best way to access that better stuff. Because Lord knows, I always need some supernatural help to act like Jesus.
And all that is well and good, but we still have to contend with the fact that sometimes we don't get what we pray for. Sometimes the answer is "no". Remember that Jesus himself prayed to God on the night before his execution, "Father, if there is any other way to do this, please let me do it that way." And then the answer to him was clear, and it was no. But having molded his entire life around prayer, Jesus was able to say, "Okay. Your will be done."
If it's good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for us.
Persistence in prayer doesn't change God, it changes us. Like Jacob from our Old Testament reading who knew not why the divine figure would wrestle him, only that his persistence nonetheless results in blessing - new name. A new identity. And I would imagine a new outlook and perspective on his life and the will of God. Praying without ceasing looks a lot like offering up all of your life to God: the good parts, the bad parts, the needy parts, the confused parts, the faithless parts - all of it. A fragrant offering to your maker. It's messy, and that's okay.
Jesus didn't promise an easy road in following him. The opposite actually. But he did give us the promise of peace. His own peace he gives to us. And the longer I do this life and faith thing, the more I'm convinced that one of the only ways to tap into that peace is a consistent, serious life of prayer. Prayer can be a lot of things, my friends. We do it here as one body, we pray for each other in times of need, we walk in nature and thank God for this wonderful creation. But also, I would commend to you that prayer is sitting quietly and waiting for God to go first. A top-down conversation rather than a bottom up conversation. Why? Because you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you just might find you get what you need.
However you pray, remember to pray always. And do not lose heart.
Amen
- Andrew McGowan
