October 17, 2021
/Pentecost – Proper 24
Job 38: 1-7, 34-41; Psalm 104: 1-9, 25, 37b; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45
The Rev. James M.L. Grace
In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN
Many years ago, I went to Las Vegas - that bustling city of virtue and proper moral behavior – entered a casino and sat down at a blackjack table. I pushed a $25 chip onto the table as my bet before the cards were dealt, and, I am embarrassed to say, I said a prayer: “God, if I just win this hand, I will give all the money to charity.” The cards were dealt, and I lost my $25. Did God answer my prayer? You bet. The answer was – don’t ask me to bend the rules for you. Life is not, and never will be fair.
Earlier this week I had a conversation with a parishioner here who recently retired and is now in the hospital. This person told me, through tears, about their frustration with the fact that they had worked decades, done everything right, and now upon retirement, are finding themselves in a hospital dealing with an array of medical issues. Who would want such an outcome? Who among us would say “I can’t wait to work my whole life towards retirement so I can spend it in a hospital room?” No one. This person said, “why me?” The answer to that question, this person already knew, was “why not me?” Why should the rest of the world suffer, but I get a free pass?
The reality that life is not fair, and that unexplainable suffering exists in the world are two primary themes from our reading in Job this morning. For those who are not familiar with the story of Job – I will offer a summary. Job is a virtuous man, a wealthy landowner, and the patriarch of a large family. In a moment, Job loses everything he has: his health, his possessions, his family – everything is lost. Job is at a loss as to why this happened to him, unaware that behind-the-scenes God has allowed Satan to cause all this hardship on Job, as a means of testing his faith.
Job, still at a loss to explain or understand the meaning behind all this hardship, demands an explanation from God. God does not explain the meaning of Job’s suffering, but instead challenges Job with a series of questions that lead Job to see a larger picture than his own suffering. The purpose of God’s questions to Job that we read today, are to draw Job outside of his own suffering. Job learns a tough lesson here – Job learns that even though life is not fair, and suffering not always explainable, God is still good, and God is still trustworthy.
This is not an easy lesson to learn – to love and trust God even while your life is falling apart – but it is a lesson that once learned, changes our lives. Once we learn to trust God through unfairness and sickness and sadness, we are no longer spiritual infants – we have matured into spiritual adults.
In my conversation with that same parishioner earlier this week, this person said, “I think I know what God is telling me – suck it up.” The parishioner laughed when they said it. Perhaps that is what God is saying to Job – but I think there is more. It’s not just “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” but it is more like God saying – look beyond yourself and your own suffering, see beyond it – and your suffering will lessen.
If preaching a sermon on suffering and unfairness isn’t your cup of tea, probably my conclusion this morning won’t be, either. I close with a word on our stewardship campaign, which beings next Sunday. I have good news. Before this year’s campaign even formally kicks off, fourteen people have already pledged online. Among those who have pledged include: seven vestry members, three staff members, and four other parishioners who wanted to get a head start. The total of their fourteen pledges is over $100,000 towards next year’s budget. This is good news. If you want to get your pledge in early, visit the giving tab on our website and you can pledge safely online.
And that’s all: stewardship, suffering, and Job – everybody’s favorite sermon topics! AMEN.