Proper 24: October 17, 2004.

Genesis 32:22-31

Psalm 121

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Luke 18:1-8

This week's texts view faith through the lens of conflict, persistent conflict. In these readings, it is not the "meek who inherit the earth." Those who wrestle, persevere, and cry out receive God's holy blessing, God's speedy justice.

Who taught us that we always have to be "good" in the presence of God? How was it we learned that meekness and manners matter most to God?

Last night the beginning confirmation students wondered what would happen if we prayed without bowing our heads and folding our hands. "And what if we prayed with our arms stretched to the ceiling and our hands facing heaven?" some asked. "Or what if we prayed lying on the grass under the stars with our arms resting at our sides?" Others wanted to know, "Would God hear us? Would God answer those kinds of prayers?"

And then at lunch at the nursing home today, a woman admitted softly, "I would like to go home to God. What do you think will happen if I ask that? What will God do if I say that I am too sick and too sad to stay here any longer?" When I encouraged her to share her every question and prayer with God, she asked about the anger. "Sometimes I hurt so much I get really angry. What about that?" Before I could respond, the man next to her shook his head. "Oh, no," he said, with more animation and words than I have seen in six months of weekly visits. "No, I don't think so! We're not to ask questions or to be angry with God. Ever."

What awesome texts these are to explain the different "positions" of prayer and what happens when we unburden ourselves in any way to almighty God. Is this not the most wonderful message to proclaim, assuring God's chosen that God wants to be fully and wholly in relationship with each of us, at all times and in all places--with those beginning their faith journeys, with those ending their time on earth; with Jacob the wrestler, Paul the experienced preacher, Timothy the new pastor, the widow, and even the judge?

Yes, it is, and yes, God listens to prayer. God listens when there are problems and God listens when we are the problem. God wants to hear from us when we're out of joint, when we're afraid, when we're crabby. And not only does God listen. God answers, God blesses, and God grants justice.

There is much in the Genesis text to speak to family members who have quarreled, succeeded at a sibling's expense, or just become disjointed over the years. Jacob's story includes all of these and more. Later, Jacob's story will include being blessed to be the father of twelve sons, and he will become the patriarch of a "company of nations" (Gen 35:11). The highlights of his story now, though, are stealing his brother Esau's birthright, getting his father Isaac's blessing (again meant for Esau) deceitfully, and running away from the rest of the family for twenty years.

No wonder he was scared to meet Esau and sent his wives, slaves, children, and earthly belongings on ahead over the Jabbok. Note that in Hebrew, Jabbok makes a memorable three-way play on words with Jacob and wrestled. (Consider for another sermon that children are at the end of the list, after the "worthless" slaves. See Luke 17:10.)

The overnight sweaty, painful grappling with God, alone and in the dark, has no doubt been used a hundred times, yet it continues to be powerful. Who among us has not tossed and turned, and even after a long hard night still tenaciously held on to a dream or a prayer near daybreak, not wanting to let go until resolution is certain, until peace has been given?

Another talking point is that, while it is certainly important to focus on the blessing at the end, before we get to that satisfying finale let's be sure to take note of what happens in between: God stays with Jacob all night. As long as it takes for the light to dawn, that's how long God stays with Jacob. That's how long God waits with us.

What about seeing God face to face? We all remember Exod 33:20, God saying to Moses, "But you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live." Jacob believes he has seen the face of God that night! And he does not just survive the experience; God preserves him through the striving. Jacob comes away changed in body and in spirit, blessed in that moment and for generations to come.

Along with the wrestling and blessing there is naming, the all-powerful and therefore unnamed one giving to Jacob the faithful a new name, which brings new life to him and populates God's world. He had been Jacob, "to seize at the heel" or "to supplant," names that describe his birth immediately following his twin, Esau, and his later success in stealing the birthright and blessing of his firstborn brother. Now, though (and at 35:10), Jacob becomes Israel, "he who strives with God." And it is this name that through his twelve sons and the twelve tribes will come to describe the whole people of God.

The reading from 2 Timothy is a perfect bridge between the Genesis and Lukan passages. Proclamation, persistence, and patience are needed to equip the saints. Preachers, pastors, teachers, you must be as relentless and determined as the wrestling Jacob and the bothering widow. "Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable" (4:2). There will be unfavorable times; people will fall away, and they will turn down wrong paths. Do whatever it takes to get the attention of God's people turned back toward the truth, literally, the God-breathed scripture.

Moving finally to Luke: About whom is this parable, and what good news is Jesus proclaiming? Calling it The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge, as some biblical editors do, focuses our attention on the judge, his lack of faith and wisdom, and his eventual yielding. Titling it The Parable of the Persistent Widow pinpoints the vulnerable woman and her faithful determination to get her case heard and her needs met. The best name is The Vindication of the Widow, for that concentrates our awareness on the granting of justice--and that's the good news!

This parable is only about prayer inasmuch as our cries to God are for the justice of God, which is what we beg for in every prayer, isn't it? "Come into our lives and make things right again for us, O God! Deliver us! Do justice!" While human persistence is important and is, in fact, modeled in all three readings today, it is the divine response that is the good news. How much greater is God's love than ours! How much more surely, how much more quickly will God execute justice and bring righteousness! The legal authority and surrendering of the unrighteous judge is only a tiny trail marker on the path to God's limitless power, compassion, and desire to put love into action for the sake of the kingdom. RKB