Jesus
said if our faith was no bigger than a poppy seed we could tell a mulberry tree
to “Go jump in the lake.” That’s not very big. If you’d drop a poppy seed in
the carpet you couldn’t find it without a vacuum cleaner. Faith, no bigger than
a poppy seed, Jesus said.
What
does that say about our faith? I know, it’s meant to be a metaphor, but is that
what Jesus meant? What if he meant it? What if our faith was no bigger than a
poppy seed? Could we move trees or mountains or governments? I haven’t moved
anything that big lately, so does that mean that my faith isn’t big enough?
It
could be that Jesus wanted his disciples to understand the power that’s
contained inside just one infinitesimal seed. The seed doesn’t look very
powerful and yet…when it’s buried in the soil and tended with water and
nutrients it can grow into a tree 60-80 feet tall.
Some
folks are planting radishes in their fields this fall as a cover crop. Radish
seed isn’t very big and yet it will grow a root 12-24 inches long and bring up
micronutrients that will benefit the next crop planted. All that from little,
tiny seeds barely covered with dirt…and all they needed was a little rain to
help them germinate.
The
disciples came to Jesus after hearing him tell them that even if their friend
sinned against them 7 times they should continue to forgive them. They were to forgive their friend even if
they thought he wasn’t being truthful. If he said that he wouldn’t do whatever
he’d done again…and then did, they were to forgive them…again.
That
sounded impossible to them and so they asked for more faith. Jesus refused to
give them more faith. He said they had enough. He said they had just the right
amount.
Faith,
five letters, one small word and yet we’re not sure we have enough. We want
more or we want a stronger faith. But Jesus says, “You don’t need more or less.
You have just enough.” Really? Why doesn’t it feel like it?
I
believe, then why can’t Aunt Jane’s cancer be cured? Why can’t our political
leaders agree on bipartisan legislation that will bring peace to our nation?
Why are there shootings every day in our cities? I believe in the power of
Jesus. I believe in God. What am I missing?
Do you have the same questions?
I’ve
been a farmer. Every year Linda and I put seeds and plants in the ground
trusting that they’ll grow and produce something good for us to eat. We have
faith that what we plant will grow into what is pictured on the seed packet.
Why do we keep planting seeds? We plant seeds because we’ve had some measure of
success in our garden. We’ve had failures too but not so many that we want to
stop planting seeds.
So,
what kind of seeds of faith are we going to plant? Every Sunday I ask you to
pray for peace. Will we ever see a peaceful world? I believe one day we will.
My hope is that we will someday have peace. That’s why I keep praying, and
asking others to pray for peace.
If
we want a world that is peaceful, compassionate, just, loving and filled with
resources enough for everyone, what kind of seeds do we need to plant?
My
friends, I believe with all my heart that it begins with every one of us. It
begins with us speaking words, powerful words of peace, love, justice,
compassion, words that will produce more words, kind words, just words that
will flower and grow bigger than the biggest maple. Words filled with truth,
God’s truth. Words filled with love, God’s love.
Words
aren’t very big. They don’t look very powerful on paper. If that’s true why do
we continue to use them? I contend that we use them because they are powerful
and we know it.
We’ve
seen how words can wound. We’ve seen how words can bring tears of joy to
people’s eyes. We’ve seen how words can make Wall Street tremble and shake and
stock prices tumble.
So,
why not believe that words, simple, truthful words can bring peace and joy and
love and justice to a hurting world? What prevents us from testing this theory?
Surely
we have faith in Jesus’ words otherwise why do we come here to worship? Surely
we don’t just come to visit our friends. We can do that at McDonald’s or
Roberts’.
Maybe
our prayers should be, “God give us more faith, faith that can learn from
Jesus’ stories, faith that can question and wait patiently for answers. God
give us faith to will lead us to act and to share our wealth with those who
have nothing. God give us more faith in you and in our friends who are praying
just like us. God give us faith and bless us so we can go out this week and
tell your story of love and peace and grace.”
Friends, we have just enough faith. Jesus said
so. You had the faith to come here to worship. You have the faith go back into
the world. Trust God’s grace and lean on his Word, Jesus the Christ. Thanks be
to God for his faith-filled grace. Amen.
