Sermon, Wartburg Theological Seminary
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Norma Cook Everist
Prov. 21:10-16
Luke 20: 45-21:4
And Jesus looked up and also saw a poor widow. “The others offered their gifts from what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, gave all she had to live on.” (Lk 21:4 TEV)
The Gospels have a lot to say about wealth, and poverty.
And so does Proverbs.
The Proverbs verses for this day begins with, “The souls of the wicked desire evil.” Another translation has wickedness described as being hungry for evil. That’s even stronger; such a contrast with those who hunger for daily bread.
I recently heard a person being interviewed on C-Span speak about a “Crisis in abuse of wealth” in this country.
I believe that is true.
Of course it is not money that is evil, but the loveof money. Idolatry.
Luther said that in which we fear, love and trust above all things is our God.
People live in the “not enough.” I’ll buy more and more and more with my ever-ready, dangerously, embarrassingly available, credit cards. Some have suggested the controversial “In God we trust” on U.S. coins has been replaced by “In debt we trust.”
(Now I’m not speaking about the burden of debt, particularly at specific times of life, from which those in need want to be freed, or about those too poor to have credit cards.)
No I’m speaking of the never-ending search for the American Dream in a country, whose citizens have come to believe not only is, but deserves to be the richest country on earth. Wickedly hungry for more and entrapped by preserving, defending, storing our stuff.
There are some televangelists, and some parish pastors who preach a “gospel of wealth.” The Good News is that God wants people to seek (and find) their fortune. “For me” from my Jesus.
Proverbs: If you refuse to listen to the cry of the poor, your own cry for help will not be heard. (Prov. 21: 13 TEV)
And read yesterday: If you make fun of poor people, you insult the God who made them (Prov. 17:5 TEV)
And read Monday: If you oppress poor people, you insult the God who made them; but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship” (Prov.14:31 TEV)
From Luther’s Large Catechism (about 500 years ago), Seventh commandment (excerpts):
“To steal is nothing else than to acquire another’s property by unjust means. This includes taking advantage of our neighbor. Stealing is a widespread, common vice, but people pay so little attention to it that the matter is entirely out of hand.…
“Thievery is the most common craft and the largest guild on earth. If we look at humankind in all its conditions, it is nothing but a vast, wide stable full of great thieves. These people are called gentleman swindlers or big operators.
“Far from being picklocks and sneak-thieves who loot a cash box, they sit in office chairs and are great lords and honorable, good citizens, and yet with a great show of legality they rob and steal…”
Luther goes on: “This is the way of the world. Those who can steal and rob openly are safe and free….even claiming honor. Meanwhile the little sneak thieves who have committed one offense must bear disgrace and punishment so as to make the others look respectable and honorable.
“Daily the poor are defrauded. … Beware how your deal with the poor of whom there are many now. If, when you meet the poor who must live from hand to mouth, you arrogantly turn them away whom you ought to give aid, they will go away wretched and dejected, and because they can complain to no one else, they will cry to heaven Such people’s cries will be no joking matter.”
Today, as then: Poor people don’t want our pity or our guilt. What use is that to them?
Living in poverty is hard work. Those who are poor spend so much time and energy walking for water, seeking work for food, healing without health care.
And the poor must carry the weapons of war and suffer the collateral damage, tens of thousands beyond number or name, whom we do not see.
Now there are promises that God will set things straight. Our text:
“The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked and casts the wicked down to ruin.” (v. 13)
“When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to evildoers” (v. 15)
But those verses taken by themselves are too easy, as though we can sit back, enjoy our good fortune, forget the poor, and say “God will take care to even things out…to punish those who have it too good. After all Justice is God’s business.”
Justice, and mercy and redemption have been and are God’s business in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Justice is choosing sides with the powerless, breaking the secrets of the powerful. Empowerment of the Spirit unleashes a Gospel of Giving way beyond what we in our meek leadership have dared to call forth. I believe that New People in Christ want to be generous, want to be freed bondage to stuff and entrapment of fear.
They, (we) need to be lead beyond our of trust in self-preservation, led, in specific ways, beyond even social ministry towards social justice, working to change inequitable global systems. I do know that freed, loved, people want to know that their giving makes a difference. It can and it does; wise, prudent, extravagant, giving, has the potential to create renewed reciprocal relationships among givers and receivers.
In our Luke text: Jesus said to beware of those who devour widows’ houses. Yes, he saw rich people and he “also” saw a poor widow and her act of worship.
That we not despair at the gross inequities (in which you and I participate), remember the widow and remember another woman, a young woman much earlier in Luke’s Gospel, Mary, whom an angel saw. The expectant Mary sang: God has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts
Brought down the powerful from their thrones
And lifted up the lowly
And filled the hungry with good things
And sent the rich away empty.” (Lk l:51-53)
By the power of the God whom we worship today, with the widow and Mary, we shall be able to believe to conceive and to sacrifice enough to make a difference.
What in the world does God want you to give birth to?
Where in the world will the Christ carry you in giving all that you have to live on? Dare to believe in the incarnate babe, the real presence of Christ, who fills us, freeing us from being fearfully hungry for wealth, or even security. Dare to believe Christ will carry the gift and the giver to places in the world way beyond our belief and make a difference.