Never Give Up
Proper 21b/Pentecost 16b

Never Give Up
by Linda Kraft

Mark 9:38-50
Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29

It was one of those days when nothing seemed to go right. The alarm didn't ring. The morning shower never got hot. The toilet overflowed. the kids were at teach others' throats. Their bus was late. Your car wouldn't start. And it wasn't even 8 a.m. yet! It was one of those days when crawling back under the covers and putting pillows over your ears was the most appealing move you could think to make.

But hiding from the world wasn't really an option. People were counting on you. Things needed to get done. Your schedule was full. There was no escape. That was when you remembered what it was you'd forgotten earlier that morning. Part of your morning routine had slipped your mind. Was it just THIS morning? Or had it been quite a while since you'd remembered to begin your day with prayer?

Now, I don't mean to say that the toilet would never overflow and your kids would be perfect angels if only you'd remembered to pray! I don't think it works like that. But, hey, it couldn't hurt! At least you'd start your day knowing you weren't alone to face whatever was to come.

In our first lesson, from the Old Testament book of Numbers we are observers to one of those "nothing ever seems to go right" kinds of days. Up until this point in their wanderings through the Wilderness, the Israelites had been somewhat cooperative with God’s plan. But, they'd been away from their homes in Egypt — homes where they had lived as slaves — for over two years now and their memories were starting to play tricks on them.

"What wonderful feasts we had," they said wistfully to one another. "Remember that fish? It was to tasty! And all we had to do was walk over to the river bank to get it. It practically jumped out of the water into our waiting arms!"

"Oh, and the cucumbers and melons, so sweet and juicy and ripe whenever we wanted them," added another.

"If only we had just a little garlic and onions or some of those wonderful leeks to season our food! But, NO. All we have is this manna stuff. What is it? We gather it every day and make flat bread. Same old thing day after day after day."

Kinda reminds me of a certain someone gazing into a full refrigerator and loudly complaining "There’s never ANYthing to eat in this house!"

Well, you know how it goes. When you’re miserable you don’t want to suffer alone. No sir! So those grumblers and complainers looked for someone, ANYone to blame for their misery. And an easy target was their leader, Moses. They made sure he knew how unhappy they were. They’d stand at the entrance to their tents and moan and groan all day long. It was enough to send Moses running to the Lord.

"Hey, God, what's up? What have I done to deserve this? I thought you said I was special to you. I might as well never have been born for all these people care!" Moses may have been complaining, too, but at least he remembered where to go with his complaints. He still trusted that God could make a difference in his life and in the lives of these chosen people.

And the Lord had a solution all ready to put into place. "Moses, don't try to take on the world single handed. That's my job! Now, here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna get you some help. Go out among the people and find seventy people the crowds respect. Then bring these leaders into our meeting tent. I'll send my spirit on them. They'll prophesy and remind the Israelites that I have a plan for their lives."

Now you'd think this was a GOOD thing, right? Did you forget Moses was having one of those "nothing ever seems to go right" kinds of days? Oh, the leaders Moses brought in did what they were inspired by the Lord to do. But, it seems Moses had missed bringing in a couple guys God had planned to gift with the Spirit. And these guys, right where they were — outside the tent milking a camel or currying their donkey's shaggy coat — were suddenly inspired to announce the Lord's plan, too. That was the straw that broke the camel's back! Tattletales from the camp ran to report to Moses exactly what was going on.

You can almost hear Moses' sigh right across the ages. Today he'd probably roll his eyes toward the sky, hold out both hands and say, "Gimme a break!" Moses just couldn't win! But at least by this time he knew he wasn’t alone in dealing with this rebellious people.

I think Moses' next words are a prayer: "Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord's Spirit would rest on them." The reason I think that was a prayer is because God granted Moses' request. Eventually.

Several centuries later, as we fast-forward through time, we see Jesus' followers re-running almost the same situation. John comes to Jesus and tests HIS patience and his grace. Jesus' followers are so often representatives of our own beliefs and behaviors. John comes running to Jesus and tattles that a couple folks — who weren't part of their inner circle of disciples — had actually cast out demons using Jesus' powerful name. John made sure to tell Jesus that he had reprimanded those folks and told them to stop what they were doing. Couldn't have anyone who isn't part of our clique getting credit for what we're supposed to be doing, y'know.

But, Jesus surprised John. Immediately understanding John's jealousy, Jesus told John not to worry about who's in and who's out. "Whoever is not against us is for us," he said. Then, Jesus challenged John to examine his own behavior. What was John's attitude telling others about God's plan for salvation, God's love for all creation?

Jesus encourages John to see God at work in the world wherever and however that might happen. He encourages us not to be jealous for the Lord but to celebrate our family of faith in all its expressions. Though we might be tempted to be self centered, we as individuals are not the only ones God has chosen to spread the good news. We shouldn't let our lack of breath, mobility, sight, etc., stop the world from hearing about God's love. Cut off that hand, pluck out that eye — whatever it takes, Jesus challenges — don't ever stop anyone from coming to me. Jesus wanted his followers then and now to be at peace with one another.

What do these scripture texts say to us today? I couldn't help but think about Moses' conversation with God. Moses wasn't afraid to come to God grumbling and complaining about the way life was treating him. When he had a "nothing ever seems to go right" kind of day he didn’t hesitate to take it to the Lord.

God, in turn, remained faithful to the original promise to be present with these chosen people through thick and thin, through manna and doves, through plagues and pestilence. God never gave up on the plan for their salvation. And, even though Moses was very human in his reactions to God's plan now and then, God never gave up on HIM either. It's as if God wanted Moses to know he wasn't alone. He shouldn't give up. There was nothing Moses and God together couldn't handle.

The same sort of "never give up" attitude seems to be present in the Gospel reading, too. Jesus challenges John, a very human, whine-y, jealous John, to step back and try again. Don’t stop trying. It may take a while for you to get it through your thick skull, but one of these days you'll realize I'm never going to give up on YOU, Jesus might have said.

From before time began, God had a plan. I think God knew that we were going to be the kind of people where nothing ever seems to go right. But, God didn't give up on us. Our ancestors in the faith were stubborn. They fought among themselves. They cheated and lied and stole from one another and from everyone else, too. But, some of them had a special gift to be able to see God's hand guiding them through their days. They never let the others forget to watch for God's plan in action.

Those are the people who had received God's spirit. First Moses and his seventy assisting ministers. Then the prophets and many of the judges and several of the kings God sent to the people before it was fully time for the plan to come together. And when the time was right — even our Sunday School children can tell us what happened then — God sent the only Son, Jesus, to be born.

Jesus lived among the ordinary "nothing ever seems to go right" people of his time. After his death and resurrection, God sent a sign that we weren’t going to be left on our own to muddle through. “Never give up,” God might have said, “because I’ll never give up on you.” The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus' fear-filled followers on that first Christian Pentecost and overwhelmed them. Those 120 or so ordinary folks went out and told everyone, in every language, just what God had done for all of creation.

Today it's your turn and mine. TV shows and movies and newspapers and the Internet may try to convince us that nothing is ever going to go right in this world. But, you and I know we are not alone. As the Psalmist declares: "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." (Ps 124:8) Our Lord will never abandon us. We have been gifted with the Holy Spirit at our baptism. And, like the seventy of Moses' time and the inside and outside disciples of Jesus' time, you and I are commissioned to tell others of God's love.

Start with prayer. Talk to God, when life is good and when it's not. And, remember to spread the good news wherever you go, even – or maybe especially – on those "nothing ever seems to go right" kinds of days. It'll make a difference. Amen

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, for all people according to their needs.

O Lord our God, you invite us to come to you just as we are. You encourage us to share our frustrations and our joys with you in prayer. Be patient with us, as we know you can be. Inspire us with your own spirit so that we may tell others of your love. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 224-29)

Lord, our champion, when the world seems to attack us from all sides, give us courage to persevere in you. Around the world your people suffer through war, with unjust rulers, in homes filled with fear and on the street. We beg your presence with these who call on you for help, and especially with those who don’t know who to call on. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Psalm 124)

Lord of all creation, you alone know how you have revealed yourself to the nations. For us, you have offered salvation through your son, Jesus the Christ. We pray for your Church wherever it is found. Raise up faithful preachers, teachers and volunteers to serve you faithfully. Encourage us to respect each other as fellow children of one creator. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Mark 9:38-50)

Healer of our every ill, you promise your restoring touch, to raise us to joy in your presence, to forgive our sins, and to hear our prayers. Hear us now as we lift these loved ones for your care...

Are there others we should include in our prayers?

Bring us back from wandering through whatever valley tries to overpower us. Give us hope in you. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (James 5:13-20)

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Comments to Linda at kraftylynx@yahoo.com.

Linda Kraft, Pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Trumbull, CT