Sermon for the Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost, Year C (10-5-25)

I'll spend just a few minutes on the Gospel, because I know that the language is difficult. And, moreover, I know that Jesus' words are confusing. Next time it comes around we'll spend more time with it, but the other readings really speak to the times, so I want to focus there. But, I think it's irresponsible to completely side-step this Gospel. So, here we go, buckle up:

Yes, the word "slave" in this translation is among the best translations for the word. The only help we get within the translation sphere is that "worthless slave" might be better translated as "unprofitable slave," and in so commenting more on utility than overall worth. But, that doesn't really settle much does it? Slavery in this time and place was a bit different than Americans will imagine. It was more so an outcome of social class than race or ethnicity, and it might be akin a bit more to indentured servitude. Many enslaved would buy their freedom, eventually. It was as much a fact of life at that time as the reality that most in this country who work full-time (or more) at minimum wage still find it basically impossible to reach financial security. An unfortunate, unjust, unequal reality. But, a reality.

And Jesus - as high-minded as he is - is more than anything a realist. So, no Jesus doesn't want anyone to be enslaved. He speaks about freedom too much for that. And no, Jesus isn't condoning slavery writ-large here. He's simply using an illustration that he knows will work for the apostles ;mainly that we don't get a cookie for doing what we ought to do. God doesn't owe us anything. In fact, the gift of grace is so big, so life-changing, so beyond a transaction that it will completely alter our view of gift-and-reward altogether. 

Okay? Okay! Now everyone do whatever you need to do to reset your brain because we're taking a big ole U-turn to our first lesson.

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not listen?

Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.

So the law becomes slack
and justice never prevails.

The wicked surround the righteous--
therefore judgment comes forth perverted.

Wait a second when was this written?! The prophet Habakkuk pens in this short book of poetry a prayer to God. Habakkuk lived in the final years of Israel's southern kingdom and began to look around and say: Wow, something is very, very wrong here.  This book ends up as a kind of back-and-forth between Habakkuk and God, and Habakkuk asks the age-old question: God, if you're so good, why is all this so bad? (So if that question has been rolling around your head lately, you're in good company.)  Why is this so bad, God? Why don't you do something about this? I can't see how it can get any worse.

Well, it does get worse. Much worse. In a short time the Babylonian Empire - which is MUCH worse - will soon conquer Israel's southern kingdom and send the people into exile for quite a long time. And knowing that the Babylonians have all the same social ills (but worse), Habakkuk points this out to God. Why would God give them into the hands of someone even farther from God's justice than themselves? Why did God do any of this?

And God's reply:

I didn't do this. You did. And actually, I'm going to spell out specific reasons all this is happening:

1) There are wildly unjust economic practices going on here. The rich have too much, the poor have too little.

2) The slavery thing has got to go.

3) Your leaders are morally compromised, and they are using their position to enrich themselves rather than serve the people in my honor.

4) You are dealing with a big idolatry problem here - worshipping pretty much anything and everything but me.

So, yeah. I didn't do this. You did. And here's one more, the longer the nations of the world continue to behave in this way the longer this cycle of destruction and despair will continue. Not because I want it to, but because you want it to. This never-ending cycle of power-grabbing, selfish, over consuming, dignity-draining suffering isn't actually necessary. But because someone always has to be on top, the revenge and insecurity of the nations will continue this cycle until it stops.

(Or at least that's how I imagine God talking to me about it.)

Again, when was this written? It is easy and understandable to look at what's going on in the world today and ask, "why"? Actually, if you aren't asking that I'm not sure you're paying attention. But, it's never been a sin to be curious. It's just that sometimes we ask questions we don't want the answers to.

C.S. Lewis quoted Augustine of Hippo once and said “God wants to give us something but cannot, because our hands are full. There’s nowhere for God to put it." God isn't letting all this happen - we are - as a country and society. We are. And God didn't make this happen, we did. But God never leaves us totally to our devices - even when we're sitting in our own mess.

God says to Habakkuk,

Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith.

These are wild times. It feels like the world is ending, and maybe it is. Maybe that's not so bad. Wouldn't it be amazing if we lived to see the cycle broken? It'll be painful and messy for this nation especially, because - news flash - we are Babylon. But in all this God promises never to truly forsake us. God didn't become one of us in Christ Jesus just to give up on us.

So, stand at your watch post and look for the thing God will do. Live by faith. Do the next right thing. And take heart, it will surely come.

Amen