October 4, 2007
World Wide Communion Sunday: The Luke text, 17:5-10 seems a bit skimpy for such an important day. Prior to this reading Jesus has a list of sayings which seem to contrast the new teaching as over against the old ways of the Pharisee. So the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith. He answers by using the mustard seed example.
Last Sunday I visited an adult Sunday School Class and listened as members struggled with the problem of faith and unbelief. They were reflecting on Mother Teresa?s confession that God was silent in her life for all of those years. The class concluded that what she was experiencing is really common for persons who are serious about their faith. Faith is a struggle.
All of the good folks in the Bible struggled with the faith and many experienced the silence of God. Job, Jeremiah, Jesus on the Cross come to mind. So maybe Mother Teresa was in good company and didn?t know it.
My adolescence experience with faith demanded a clear authoritative word from the Lord. Now that I am an old dog in the faith, I have discovered that the Word will often be silent, unexpected, untimely, unwanted, and never an easy thing to hear. I think Mother Teresa did a great thing for the church in her confessions. Spiritual honesty is rare these days.
World Wide Communion needs to be more than Christians around the world holding hands for a moment and Singing Kum by yah. Here is an opportunity to call people to increase their faith and their giving.
Walter Wink, defines prayer as spiritual warfare. He believes that when we pray we open up a space in which God can work. Just imagine the whole world at prayer next Sunday. That mustard seed example can be a reality. Let's all come to the table.
"I know God will not give me anything I can?t handle. I just wish that God didn?t trust me so much. Mother Teresa
Rev. Bill Cotton, author of this week?s Thursday Memo is a retired clergy member of the Iowa Annual Conference. He can be contacted at: cottonbillcotton@aol.com
