mustard seed faith

from my sermon on World Communion Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010 from Luke 17:5-10

The problems in the world seem so huge. The challenges are overwhelming. Our faith seems so small. What can one person possibly do?

In 2006, Lynda Commale saw a PBS documentary on malaria and its devasting effects on women and children especially. "I have to do something," she said to herself. Over breakfast the next morning, she shared her concerns with her family, her husband and their two small children. Her 5 yr old, Katherine, had all kinds of questions: "What kind of mosquito does this? How does a person get sick? What are bed nets?" Katherine was really upset at the fact that a child died every 30 seconds. She counted out on her little fingers 1,2,3,4.....27, 28, 29, 30. "Mom, we have to do something." Lynda knew that a bednet costs $10. She figured they would buy $40 worth, one for each member of her family. Katherine said, "I can do a lemonade stand."

They knew that they wanted to do more, but didn't know how. So mother and daughter went to their church. I am not making this name up; it was Hopewell UMC in Downintown, Penn. They talked to the Christian educator. They came up with a powerpoint presentation. They showed to the congregation. On one Sunday, they raised $11,000. Katherine was on the floor of the church lobby helping to count. At every $10 bill, she said, "There's another one, and another one."

They sent the money to the United Nations which was just starting the Nothing But Nets program. Early partners were the United Methodist Church and the National Basketball Assoctiation. These partners asked Lynda and Katherine to become spokespersons. They agreed to. They sharpened their presentation and went out to other churches and schools. They came up with a skit. They got children to come up on stage and pretend to be asleep. Then a child pretending to be a mosquito would come attack them. Much booing and hissing. Then those same children would be covered by a net. The mosquito couldn't get in. Much cheering. Katherine created gift certificates for people to buy remembering birthday, anniversaries, etc. She has sold over 500 each year.

Over 3 years Lynda and Katherine raised over $140,000 themselves. Through their programs, millions more have been raised. Lynda says that sometimes she wants to give up. The burden is too much to bear. Then someone will come along and set her straight again.

You know that we have gotten caught up in this. Last year this church raised over $35,000 in cash. With pledges still coming in, we will be up around $50,000 from this one congregation.

What can one person do in the face of world problems? A lot.

You may be saying along with the first followers of Jesus, "Increase our faith." Remember in this section of Luke, Jesus is on a long journey to Jerusalem and all that happens there. He is trying to prepared his disciples. He has been teaching them about all that they must give, and give up, and forgive. No wonder they say, "Increase our faith."

His response is, "if you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this 60' tree be thrown into the sea, and it would be." Now I need to do a little Greek with you. You may think "if" means "you may or may not have faith." But what it means here in this phrasing is "since you have the faith of a mustard seed, it is enough."

Now mustard seeds are very small. I will be giving you one as you come up to take communion today. I want you to hold that little piece of bread in your hand along with that tiny seed. I want you to hear Jesus say to you, "you may think your faith is so small, but I tell you it is enough. Act on what you already have. Put into practice what you believe."

On this World Communion Sunday, I remember Rosa Parks, who was too tired to move to the back of the bus. She stayed seated and started a modern emancipation movment. Just mustard seed size is enough.

Lech Walensa in Poland was just a laborer on the docks in Poland, but with organizing and with the Catholic Church's help, a communist government was overthrown.

One of my heroes is Bill W. He had tried everything to get sober. Finally, he talked to one other alcoholic. He said, "I am not here for you; I am here for me. I need this to get well." He started alcoholics anonymous, which then spread to narcotics anonymous, and overeaters anonymous, and gamblers anonymous. All of these 12 step recovery programs start with admitting that we are powerless over our behavior. We seek God as our Higher Power to restore us to sanity.

When I read this passage this past week, I remember a story from a long time ago, early in my ministry. That line about tossing a mulberry tree triggered something in my. You know that the coca plant is grown in Central and South America so that cocaine may be produced from its leaves. It just so happens that mulberry trees are exactly suited for the same climate. Someone had the idea to approach farmers with the options of replacing their coca plants with mulberry trees. What eats mulberry leaves? Silkworms! Instead of destroying lives with their crops, farmers were given an opportunity to give life.

These last 2 examples capture the last part of the Gospel lesson for today. When we have done all that we could, we should not expect an award or a thank you card or an "atta boy" or a "you go girl." When we do the right thing, we may never get credit. It is enough for us to say, "we are your servants. We were only doing what is expected."

I know today you may be saying, "Lord, increase our faith." Or in today's vernacular, "Super-size me." But the Lord will be saying back to you, "you have plenty of faith to act on. Do right and don't worry about the results."