A few months ago, my seminary friend, Pam, introduced me to Diana Butler Bass. Diana has a doctorate in religious studies and is an author of numerous books and a sought-after speaker.
I subscribed to her newsletter. She occasionally sends out a sermon she has preached at some venue … usually a venue for disenfranchised Christians.
This morning I felt as though she was preaching directly to me. Her sermon gave a depth of meaning to my persistent advocacy for justice for my disabled daughter in the face of uncaring systems.
Her sermon text was taken from the Parable of the Unjust Judge:
Jesus told his disciples a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, `Grant me justice against my opponent.’
For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, `Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” ~Luke 18:1-8
Validation
Without Diana’s powerful sermon, I would never have seen my persistence these past few weeks … and years … as an act of “praying without ceasing” … a persuasive argument with the world to act with justice … just like the widow did with the unjust judge.
How validating to have my actions seen in this context:
- Prayer = an exchange of persuasive words … an argument to persuade God and the world to act in a particular way … not to lack heart in the argument … the future is open-ended … minds can be changed
- Find = to be met with faith that justice can come on earth as it is in heaven
- Faith = conviction … trust … the devotion of one’s heart … a disposition of being … a persistent argument for justice
Diana gave permission to share this post containing her sermon, so I encourage you to take a listen here.
Gratitude
Today I’m feeling gratitude for
- Pam introducing me to Diana Butler Bass
- For those disenfranchised Christians who persist in creating new relational communities based on love and service
- The dawning awareness that helped me see my advocacy for my daughter as ministering to “the least of these”
- And, today, seeing my persistence as an unceasing prayer for justice
My life is so much more meaningful as a result and that’s a lot to be grateful for.
When I hear the words ‘persistence in prayer’ my mind goes to this puppeter God who plays favors and reminded myself I’ve been hearing that from other sources and what is the message for me. (I am sounding like you Linda, learning from you:):):) I asked myself…If I am Divinity, and everything around me is Divinity manifesting ITSELF, then isn’t this hard work you were doing Linda just like me talking to myself, asking myself questions, working out what is wrong in my life? When we are persistent are we Divinity working its manifestation out???? Perfecting this masterpiece of creation, cleaning up, finishing up, touching up, co-creating!!!! Aren’t we co-creating with God and not just asking an outside power to take care of it????? I am reminded of someone telling me when I was very young that I was the hands and feet of Christ in this world. Maybe that was Jesus’ message…That Divinity didn’t just live in him but in all of us, that he was not THE ONLY SON OF GOD, that we are all DIVINE BEINGS, working together to get the kinks out of the process….?!?!?!?!?! And I continue wondering……
Petitionary prayer has never been meaningful to me … I, too, am uncomfortable with a puppeteer God who plays favorites. My most meaningful form of prayer is through contemplative reading and writing (called lectio divina in church circles). Hence, the name of my blog “Heart Ponderings.” I usually share my prayers/heart ponderings here.
When I am conscious, as I was while advocating for Nicole, my every action is a prayer. As a conflict avoider, when I get angry and yell, it doesn’t feel like prayer. It is then I see Jesus turning over the tables in the temple. Then I can see my angry action in a larger context as also a prayer.
You said: “me talking to myself,”
What I would say is “me talking to my true self / higher self / real self.” Not everything I say is from that evolved place within. But Diana Butler Bass’s sermon helped me see that more of what I said when advocating for Nicole was a prayer.
If you listened to her sermon, I loved what she said about the man’s 24-year prayer of protesting the Roman Catholic Church with signs about their protecting pedophiles. What faithfulness!
Made me feel better about all my years of advocating for my children against systems who proclaim that they care but act like they don’t. An injustice for all of us!
I do trust that Jesus came to show us all that we have Divinity inside us and our journey here is to actualize it as much as possible. Taking that journey in a conscious way is what gives my life meaning and purpose.