Proper 20 C + A peaceable life + 9.21.25

 

M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

(Jeremiah 8:18–9:1; Ps. 79:1–9; 1 Timothy 2:1–7; St. Luke 16:1–13)

 

“… So that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.” (from 1 Timothy 2:1-7)

This section of today’s epistle brings to mind a scripture repeated among our Oxnard Police Interfaith Council meetings recently: “If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18).

In today’s world, we have shocking reminders that living peaceably is only so much within our grasp when there are many forces of cynicism and nihilism in the world, especially infecting our young people. In addition, many Christians see themselves as victims rather than understanding their role in systems of oppression and the adverse effects of climate change, and thus are not taking adequate actions to respond because they feel they must first wage an inner spiritual war.

It makes me wonder: how do we find hope? How do we try to live peaceably and be good stewards of the gifts that God has given us?

Sometimes, very simple experiences help me reset my inner compass. One thing happened this week when, on the way back from a meeting at the diocese, I brought some communion to Walter Fuller, the steward of Ormond Beach, and a member of our church. Even though he faithfully reads our sermons, he cannot make it out here on Sundays due to his duties. He is a diligent steward of wildlife at the beach, keeps a log of the birds and other wildlife, and provides a welcoming presence to visitors. Sad things happen at the beach, too.  But even so, he experiences peace at the wildlife refuge. Walter described it as a little peaceful space in the middle of a busy world. And that is how it feels. I felt peace settle as I walked out to look at the ocean.

Today’s gospel talks about a steward. Now, at first, this steward does not seem like much of a good steward. Maybe a bit like we have been with planet earth, playing it fast and loose, imagining that her abundant resources are limitless.

Rumors go around that this guy is crooked and out of a job, but not before he can tie up loose ends.

Now, here is the part that is both shocking and gratifying. He adjusts the debts of the people who owe his boss. At first, that seems wrong. He shorted his boss some grain and oil. But maybe he doesn’t because these folks couldn’t pay the whole amount, so at least the boss got something this way? Either way, the master commends him. He did okay!

Pastor Alene pointed something out to me this week that I had not noticed, inspired by John Donahue. She says that this passage comes right after the parable of the Prodigal Son and that there are some parallels. She even suggests, what if this shrewd steward is another lens on the older son, who has tried to administer the gifts his father put in his hands? How might the passage read differently if so?

I like that, and something that the Rev. Norma Guerra said this week. She said this passage is all about forgiveness, like everything that Jesus talks about. The steward forgives debts. Perhaps we shouldn’t take it too literally.

At the same time, we have this passage about not serving God and money. Money is an essential tool, but we must remember that it is only one tool among many. This passage reminds us of the richness of relationships. Norma reminded us at the staff Eucharist this week at the diocese that when we de-focus on money as our goal, we are better able to see the poor, the immigrant, children, those whose importance to us and to God is not all about money, even though we know that immigrants contribute significantly to the economy.

I think part of the point of this story is not so much how exactly we read it at any given time, but whether we have eyes to see that there are different people who have different gifts to offer, gifts that are valuable in God’s economy.

Jesus was mostly talking to a long-shot crowd. Very few of his listeners were people of privilege. They were up against incredible odds trying to live into the kingdom as members on the outskirts of society.

Similarly, there are so many obstacles in our current day and age. We feel like we are swimming against a cultural tide of misinformation, wrong-headed Christianity, and consumerism. The challenges of global warming seem so big, and even as we try to change our ways, the future still looks bleak.

However, a book I have been reading for our church retreat, Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone, while depressingly focused on ensuring that we wake up to the realities of the climate crisis, nonetheless lives up to its title toward the end of the book. Macy and Johnstone suggest that we are not powerless, but if each of us does what we can, we can and will make a difference. In their mind, it is about climate change, but for me, it is also about a spiritual and social climate change.

Jesus asks his hearers to truly listen to his parables so they may have eyes to see.

When we have eyes to see, we can build upon the relationships that can be a basis for forming the kingdom of God, here and now, not despite the darkness of our current moment but as an active form of hope in response to it.

As Maria Dahvana Headley says at the end of her introduction to her translation of the epic poem Beowulf,

“Sometimes I picture a map of the world… On that imaginary map, I’ve added story lighthouses… out here are dragons. There are also stories that haven’t yet been reckoned with. Stories hidden within the stories we think we know. It takes new readers, writers, and scholars to find them. People whose experiences, identities, and intellects span the full spectrum of humanity, not just a slice of it. That is, in my opinion, the reason to keep analyzing texts like Beowulf. We might, if we analyzed our own long-standing stories, use them to translate ourselves into a society in which hero-making doesn’t require monster-killing, border closing, and hoard-clinging, but instead requires a more challenging task, taking responsibility for one another (Maria Dahvana Headley, Beowulf, Kindle, 2020).”

Perhaps being a part of Active Hope means having eyes to see all the people and stories around us, and to invite those stories and gifts to all be a part of the dialogue, so that we can together build a better world, a foretaste of the Kingdom to come.
Do not be intimidated by the state of things, but be inspired to make a difference. This is the way to a peaceable life. Amen.