Strong Enough
Faith is something we share. Faith grows in us individually
but at the same time with the help of others, especially those around us. True Christian
faith brings to us justice, love, and respect for the dignity of others.
Then I look at the internet – Facebook, Twitter, Blogs
& other places- post made by people who call themselves Christians; and,
that is not what I see. Is our faith
strong enough?
It is part of the story in the readings. At two separate
times, two separate men come before the people. They are both returning home,
to unroll the scrolls of God’s word to share with the people.
They came to build. They built on the word of God because they came to build faith. They both were there for God’s work. Ezra came to build
the temple. Jesus came to build the kingdom of God.
Ezra finds Jerusalem and God’s temple in ruins,
destroyed. The people and community had been destroyed by years of absence,
captivity, and outside influence. Jesus came to find the same thing but he was not
working with physical ruins but spiritual ruins. The people and community had
been destroyed by outside influences, greed, and politics.
They brought God’s law to build faith. They used God’s
word to proclaim justice, love and the dignity of others. Jesus and Ezra did
this sharing God’s word with those around them. Each called to the poor, the downtrodden,
the wounded, and people seeking forgiveness. Do not be sad and do not weep— for all the
people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
Those were people just like us. The people were
weeping because they knew they had sinned. There were a people seeking justice,
needing to be loved, and most of all needing dignity.
We live in a world of people just like Ezra’s time.
We live in a world of people just like in Jesus’ time. We live in a world that
is broken both physically and spiritually. Is our faith strong enough?
Ezra asked the people to believe and realize the
certainty of these teachings. Luke asks of us to believe the words of Jesus, “Today
this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
That’s what faith is about. Justice, love, and
dignity is found in God’s word, which is alive today. Believe in the scripture
and it is fulfilled.
It is still being fulfilled today through the Holy
Spirit. It is fulfilled through Christ who is always present, especially in us,
his Church.
Luke points out that we are a continuation of Jesus’
work. We continue the building of his kingdom as the body of Christ. A body of
many parts we are one body in Christ.
For through the Holy Spirit we are baptized into one body. We are one body
giving glory to God and bringing holiness to his people through the word of God. Do not be sad, and do not weep your words,
Lord, are Spirit and life.
The Church is the body of Christ anointed by the
Holy Spirit. We build the kingdom on faith. It is a faith that exudes justice,
love, and respect for the dignity of others. For the Lord asks us to stand
above the crowd. God sends us to the poor and to the oppressed.
This calls for us to be strong, right? Maybe I am
not strong in the way I need to be strong. Am I strong enough?
Jesus tells us faith the size of a mustard seed can
move mountains. I pray and pray waiting for something to happen. I pray for people
to be healed, peace to be realized, and for justice, love and the world to realize
the dignity of all people. I am only part of the body and part of the prayer.
Even the parts of the body that seem weaker are necessary
and important. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part
is honored; all parts share its joy. This is the truth shared by Ezra,
“rejoicing in the Lord is our strength!” Our joy is strength; it refreshes the
soul!
Together we are strong enough!
Jesus, Ezra, and Luke teach us on our relationship
to God and to one another. Our
relationship to God is the basis of our faith; a faith built in justice, love,
and respect for the dignity of others.
In this Year of Mercy share God’s word and your
faith like Jesus, Ezra, and Luke.
“Y’all be good,
y’all be Holy, and always preach the Gospel by the way you live.” Amen.
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