Let God Do The Rest
Sermon
Sermons on the Second Readings
Series II, Cycle B
Once there was a boy who loved to look at the birds of the air, the flowers of the field, and the clear blue sky. These delighted him and he spent the majority of his time outside wandering about the countryside. One day he saw a crowd of people gathered and as he drew closer he saw that they were listening to a man. He was not sure what it was, but there was something magnetic about this man that drew the boy closer. He sat down on the grass and listened to what the man said. Never in his life had he heard someone speak so clearly from the heart.
From that time forward the boy kept an eye out for the man. Whenever he was in the area he hurried to listen to him speak. Over time the boy grew to love the man more and more. He truly envied the man's followers, his disciples. They traveled wherever he went. He could not wait to grow up so that he could follow the man as well. The boy received much from the man, especially the love and compassion present in his eyes and his heart-felt message, and he longed to be able to give the man something in return, but he had nothing to give.
One day the boy met the man's mother. She had come to give her son a message. The boy followed the woman to her home and begged her to tell him more about her son. She told him that shortly after her son was born three astrologers from the East had visited and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. She also spoke of one who gave her son a lamb. The boy recalled that he had heard that a woman in a local village had poured sweet smelling perfume over the man's feet and dried them with her hair. How he wished he had some great gift for the man.
Often the boy would go to the mother's home. He felt at home there as she spoke about her son to him. One day as he left her house to see if the man was in the area, she gave him a few loaves of bread she had just taken out of the oven. She thought he would need them for his journey home. As he went in search for the man he stopped by the local lake and caught a couple of fish. He then continued on his way with the loaves and two fish he had caught. Finally, he caught sight of the people who were listening to the man.
The man had much to say that day and the people listened and were fascinated. As it grew late the boy sensed that the people listening were hungry. He was happy that he had his bread and fish. He wanted to share with an old man to his side and a woman who was carrying her baby. What about all the others, he thought? There were so many of them and surely they did not anticipate being in such a deserted place where there was no place to buy food. It was a long way to the closest village. The boy felt badly, but he was only a youth; what could he do?
Then one of the man's disciples came to him saying that the man had asked for the boy's bread and fish. He was glad to give them, but felt badly for the tired old man and the woman with her child. How he wished he had more to give. Then he saw the man take the loaves and fish. He blessed them and gave thanks and then started to distribute them to all listening to him. He went through the crowd giving everyone some bread and fish. He came to the tired old man and then to the woman carrying her baby; there was enough for them. Finally, he stopped in front of the boy and gave him some bread and fish. The boy's heart stopped; never had he been so close to the man. He looked into the man's eyes and then realized that he did not need to give a lot. It really was quite simple. All he had to do was give the little bit he had and the man would do the rest.1
This story, patterned obviously after the synoptic accounts of Jesus' multiplication of the loaves and fish (Mark 8:1-10; Matthew 15:32-39), speaks of the Christian vocation to respond to the Lord. Some of God's children have lots to give -- material things, time, and spiritual advice -- but others, like the boy, have what seems to be little or nothing to give. But we must realize, as the boy learned, whatever we have, if given fully and with proper attitude, is sufficient. God will supply the rest.
When one thinks about supplying something toward a goal, the concept of contract is applicable. We are very familiar with contracts for all of us participate in many varied types throughout our lives. We also know how contracts are supposed to work. Two parties agree to provide something, possibly services, money, time, material goods, toward a common goal. Most people have a contract associated with their home -- a mortgage or lease agreement. We agree to pay a certain amount of money each month and in return the owner or loan broker agrees to supply a home which meets the standards agreed upon when the contract was signed. Many costly items, such as a car, necessitate a contract. Besides contracts with material things, the more important contracts of our lives are personal. When we agree to take a family member or friend to the doctor or assist someone in need we have made an important contract. We volunteer our time and some effort to assist others. While one party seems to be the giver and the other the receiver, both give and receive in hidden ways of friendship and love. A more fundamental human contract is marriage. Here the give and take is more obvious. Even students and teachers have contracts. If both sides work toward the common goal of education and enlightenment, all win; if either side fails to perform, the chain is broken and education is stunted.
Contracts are important, but often those that are most fundamental are the ones we think least about in our daily routine. People are very attentive to contracts for material things because failure to carry through results in harsh consequences. If we fail to pay our rent or the car payment we may be evicted or have the vehicle repossessed. Since the ramifications of our failure in such contracts is great, our attention to detail is greater. Unfortunately, however, our inattention seems greatest when, on the surface at least, there is nothing lost if we do not hold up our end of the contract. If we forget our arrangement to assist our neighbor, or fail to uphold our end of the marriage commitment we do not immediately see any consequences. Thus, we are at times are lulled into a state of complacency. We think we can "get away with" inattention or inaction. The results of our failures will one day return, however, and the results could be devastating.
One of the contracts that receives the "back-burner" treatment is our relationship with God. This contract is the same basic covenant that Yahweh initiated with Abraham and then more generally the Jews collectively as described in the Hebrew Scriptures. In essence the contract said that God would provide all that was needed if the people would be faithful and worship God and God alone. The failures of the Hebrews in their contract with God were numerous and profound, leading eventually to destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel and the infamous Babylonian exile in the southern kingdom of Judah. Like the Jews, we are many times unfaithful. Our half of the agreement is crystal clear. Jesus says we are to love God and love others as we do ourselves. The "Golden Rule" gives the basic format, the foundation for the contract, but in Matthew 25 we have some specifics of how we love God by loving one another. Our half of the contract requires us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned. Rather than the proscriptions of the decalogue, Jesus presents a positive message of what is necessary to uphold our end of the contract.
God is not only eternally faithful to his end of the bargain, providing all that we need, but even promises divine gifts for those who hold fast to their end of the contract. The Pauline author reminds us, "If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; ... if we are faithless, he remains faithful -- for he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:11b-12a, 13). The special reward that is God's promise is described by Saint Paul: "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Saint Paul well understood the need to work toward a common goal and thus keep his contract with God. Jesus called Paul along the road to Damascus and commissioned him to be the apostle to the Gentiles. Paul gave what he had, possibly feeling inadequate like the boy in the story, but trusting that God would do the rest. Paul did heroic things, traveling the Mediterranean world on three dangerous and arduous missionary journeys, but he realized that he was only the vehicle of God. He could only do so much, but he had total confidence that God would do the rest. Thus, in his travels he visited the great city of Ephesus, founded a fledgling Christian community, and instructed the people on giving what they had, and being faithful to their contract with God.
Today's Second Reading is a beautiful and powerful example of Paul's ability to instruct through prayer. The Pauline author tells the Ephesians through this prayer of their need for thanksgiving. He falls on his knees and prays that the Christian community will be strengthened through the power of the Spirit. Paul realizes that the people can only do so much; God will need to do the rest. He has total confidence that Christ also will bring strength to the community if the people are rooted in love. The apostle is suggesting that the people's relationship with God is based not on what they have but only on who they are and what they do. They must trust God to do the rest.
Paul next prays that the people will understand that the love of Christ surpasses all knowledge. He realizes that human nature often leads us to feel we need to control every situation and to provide what is necessary to complete tasks or remedy problematic situations. However, if we will allow God to do God's part, we will be filled with all the riches and understanding that the conditions warrant or require. If we do as the author of Proverbs suggests: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight" (Proverbs 3:5), then we will have all that we need.
Paul summarizes his prayer with a doxology at the end. He reminds the Ephesians that God, working through us, will allow us "to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine." We must allow God to be God and do what only God can do. If we do our share, as much or as little as that might be or seem to be to us, God will fill in the gaps and complete the task.
Paul's prayer and his emphasis on a contract where we do our part but in faith allow God to do the Lord's part, is not easy. Two opposed generalities arise that become problematic in allowing God to handle things, to believe that God will do the rest. Some of us are like the boy in the story; we feel we have nothing to offer, that we are unworthy of God, but we should recall that the Prophet Isaiah (6:5a) considered himself unworthy. He cried out, "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips." Yet, God demonstrated to the prophet his suitability for his mission by purging him of any sin. Recall as well, Peter's reaction to Jesus at the miraculous catch of fish: "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man" (Luke 5:1-11). But as with Isaiah, Jesus counters Peter's protest: "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people." The story of the boy and the biblical examples clearly tell us that God is not concerned with the size or significance of our gifts, nor of our perception of personal worthiness; God is only interested in us doing our part and allowing God to do the rest.
The polar opposite of those who feel unworthy are people who want to do it all; they cannot wait for God to act because they may lose control. People in this category don't want to hedge their bets on a God they cannot see; the necessary trust in God does not exist. They want to control the situation; they cannot let God be God. Trust requires that one let go, but many find such an option threatening at best, and terrifying at worst. The story of the boy who met Jesus and Paul's prayer of thanksgiving to the Ephesians encourages us to let go and allow God to do what is necessary.
The boy thought he had nothing to offer, but he learned that all he needed to give was himself. Paul tells the Ephesians the same thing; they must place their trust in God and God will do the rest. Let us believe and practice the same!
____________
1.ÊParaphrased from "The Boy Who Had Nothing to Give," in Jude Fischer, ed. Be Always Little: Christian Fables for Young and Old (Combermere, Ontario, Canada: Madonna House, 1996), pp. 91-93.
From that time forward the boy kept an eye out for the man. Whenever he was in the area he hurried to listen to him speak. Over time the boy grew to love the man more and more. He truly envied the man's followers, his disciples. They traveled wherever he went. He could not wait to grow up so that he could follow the man as well. The boy received much from the man, especially the love and compassion present in his eyes and his heart-felt message, and he longed to be able to give the man something in return, but he had nothing to give.
One day the boy met the man's mother. She had come to give her son a message. The boy followed the woman to her home and begged her to tell him more about her son. She told him that shortly after her son was born three astrologers from the East had visited and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. She also spoke of one who gave her son a lamb. The boy recalled that he had heard that a woman in a local village had poured sweet smelling perfume over the man's feet and dried them with her hair. How he wished he had some great gift for the man.
Often the boy would go to the mother's home. He felt at home there as she spoke about her son to him. One day as he left her house to see if the man was in the area, she gave him a few loaves of bread she had just taken out of the oven. She thought he would need them for his journey home. As he went in search for the man he stopped by the local lake and caught a couple of fish. He then continued on his way with the loaves and two fish he had caught. Finally, he caught sight of the people who were listening to the man.
The man had much to say that day and the people listened and were fascinated. As it grew late the boy sensed that the people listening were hungry. He was happy that he had his bread and fish. He wanted to share with an old man to his side and a woman who was carrying her baby. What about all the others, he thought? There were so many of them and surely they did not anticipate being in such a deserted place where there was no place to buy food. It was a long way to the closest village. The boy felt badly, but he was only a youth; what could he do?
Then one of the man's disciples came to him saying that the man had asked for the boy's bread and fish. He was glad to give them, but felt badly for the tired old man and the woman with her child. How he wished he had more to give. Then he saw the man take the loaves and fish. He blessed them and gave thanks and then started to distribute them to all listening to him. He went through the crowd giving everyone some bread and fish. He came to the tired old man and then to the woman carrying her baby; there was enough for them. Finally, he stopped in front of the boy and gave him some bread and fish. The boy's heart stopped; never had he been so close to the man. He looked into the man's eyes and then realized that he did not need to give a lot. It really was quite simple. All he had to do was give the little bit he had and the man would do the rest.1
This story, patterned obviously after the synoptic accounts of Jesus' multiplication of the loaves and fish (Mark 8:1-10; Matthew 15:32-39), speaks of the Christian vocation to respond to the Lord. Some of God's children have lots to give -- material things, time, and spiritual advice -- but others, like the boy, have what seems to be little or nothing to give. But we must realize, as the boy learned, whatever we have, if given fully and with proper attitude, is sufficient. God will supply the rest.
When one thinks about supplying something toward a goal, the concept of contract is applicable. We are very familiar with contracts for all of us participate in many varied types throughout our lives. We also know how contracts are supposed to work. Two parties agree to provide something, possibly services, money, time, material goods, toward a common goal. Most people have a contract associated with their home -- a mortgage or lease agreement. We agree to pay a certain amount of money each month and in return the owner or loan broker agrees to supply a home which meets the standards agreed upon when the contract was signed. Many costly items, such as a car, necessitate a contract. Besides contracts with material things, the more important contracts of our lives are personal. When we agree to take a family member or friend to the doctor or assist someone in need we have made an important contract. We volunteer our time and some effort to assist others. While one party seems to be the giver and the other the receiver, both give and receive in hidden ways of friendship and love. A more fundamental human contract is marriage. Here the give and take is more obvious. Even students and teachers have contracts. If both sides work toward the common goal of education and enlightenment, all win; if either side fails to perform, the chain is broken and education is stunted.
Contracts are important, but often those that are most fundamental are the ones we think least about in our daily routine. People are very attentive to contracts for material things because failure to carry through results in harsh consequences. If we fail to pay our rent or the car payment we may be evicted or have the vehicle repossessed. Since the ramifications of our failure in such contracts is great, our attention to detail is greater. Unfortunately, however, our inattention seems greatest when, on the surface at least, there is nothing lost if we do not hold up our end of the contract. If we forget our arrangement to assist our neighbor, or fail to uphold our end of the marriage commitment we do not immediately see any consequences. Thus, we are at times are lulled into a state of complacency. We think we can "get away with" inattention or inaction. The results of our failures will one day return, however, and the results could be devastating.
One of the contracts that receives the "back-burner" treatment is our relationship with God. This contract is the same basic covenant that Yahweh initiated with Abraham and then more generally the Jews collectively as described in the Hebrew Scriptures. In essence the contract said that God would provide all that was needed if the people would be faithful and worship God and God alone. The failures of the Hebrews in their contract with God were numerous and profound, leading eventually to destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel and the infamous Babylonian exile in the southern kingdom of Judah. Like the Jews, we are many times unfaithful. Our half of the agreement is crystal clear. Jesus says we are to love God and love others as we do ourselves. The "Golden Rule" gives the basic format, the foundation for the contract, but in Matthew 25 we have some specifics of how we love God by loving one another. Our half of the contract requires us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned. Rather than the proscriptions of the decalogue, Jesus presents a positive message of what is necessary to uphold our end of the contract.
God is not only eternally faithful to his end of the bargain, providing all that we need, but even promises divine gifts for those who hold fast to their end of the contract. The Pauline author reminds us, "If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; ... if we are faithless, he remains faithful -- for he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:11b-12a, 13). The special reward that is God's promise is described by Saint Paul: "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Saint Paul well understood the need to work toward a common goal and thus keep his contract with God. Jesus called Paul along the road to Damascus and commissioned him to be the apostle to the Gentiles. Paul gave what he had, possibly feeling inadequate like the boy in the story, but trusting that God would do the rest. Paul did heroic things, traveling the Mediterranean world on three dangerous and arduous missionary journeys, but he realized that he was only the vehicle of God. He could only do so much, but he had total confidence that God would do the rest. Thus, in his travels he visited the great city of Ephesus, founded a fledgling Christian community, and instructed the people on giving what they had, and being faithful to their contract with God.
Today's Second Reading is a beautiful and powerful example of Paul's ability to instruct through prayer. The Pauline author tells the Ephesians through this prayer of their need for thanksgiving. He falls on his knees and prays that the Christian community will be strengthened through the power of the Spirit. Paul realizes that the people can only do so much; God will need to do the rest. He has total confidence that Christ also will bring strength to the community if the people are rooted in love. The apostle is suggesting that the people's relationship with God is based not on what they have but only on who they are and what they do. They must trust God to do the rest.
Paul next prays that the people will understand that the love of Christ surpasses all knowledge. He realizes that human nature often leads us to feel we need to control every situation and to provide what is necessary to complete tasks or remedy problematic situations. However, if we will allow God to do God's part, we will be filled with all the riches and understanding that the conditions warrant or require. If we do as the author of Proverbs suggests: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight" (Proverbs 3:5), then we will have all that we need.
Paul summarizes his prayer with a doxology at the end. He reminds the Ephesians that God, working through us, will allow us "to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine." We must allow God to be God and do what only God can do. If we do our share, as much or as little as that might be or seem to be to us, God will fill in the gaps and complete the task.
Paul's prayer and his emphasis on a contract where we do our part but in faith allow God to do the Lord's part, is not easy. Two opposed generalities arise that become problematic in allowing God to handle things, to believe that God will do the rest. Some of us are like the boy in the story; we feel we have nothing to offer, that we are unworthy of God, but we should recall that the Prophet Isaiah (6:5a) considered himself unworthy. He cried out, "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips." Yet, God demonstrated to the prophet his suitability for his mission by purging him of any sin. Recall as well, Peter's reaction to Jesus at the miraculous catch of fish: "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man" (Luke 5:1-11). But as with Isaiah, Jesus counters Peter's protest: "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people." The story of the boy and the biblical examples clearly tell us that God is not concerned with the size or significance of our gifts, nor of our perception of personal worthiness; God is only interested in us doing our part and allowing God to do the rest.
The polar opposite of those who feel unworthy are people who want to do it all; they cannot wait for God to act because they may lose control. People in this category don't want to hedge their bets on a God they cannot see; the necessary trust in God does not exist. They want to control the situation; they cannot let God be God. Trust requires that one let go, but many find such an option threatening at best, and terrifying at worst. The story of the boy who met Jesus and Paul's prayer of thanksgiving to the Ephesians encourages us to let go and allow God to do what is necessary.
The boy thought he had nothing to offer, but he learned that all he needed to give was himself. Paul tells the Ephesians the same thing; they must place their trust in God and God will do the rest. Let us believe and practice the same!
____________
1.ÊParaphrased from "The Boy Who Had Nothing to Give," in Jude Fischer, ed. Be Always Little: Christian Fables for Young and Old (Combermere, Ontario, Canada: Madonna House, 1996), pp. 91-93.
