Bigger is better! Isn’t that what we’re led to believe? Bigger is better. Bigger churches are seen to be more successful. Bigger companies make more profit. Whereas we’d love our churches to be filled to the brim and overflowing we need to ensure we do not throw in the towel because our numbers are not what we’d like them to be. Sometimes when we are “bigger” we can tend to believe that we are invincible and suddenly less reliant on God and more reliant on continuing to do the things we are doing because they work. Smaller churches try to replicate what bigger churches are doing believing if they can do it then so can we with the same results.
I find it interesting in today’s Gospel reading that Jesus seems to be addressing a personal message to those churches that perhaps are struggling a little bit because of their size. Jesus says, do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. And he encourages them to rid themselves of anything that might cause them to look at their own abilities: Anything that might give them a false sense of security. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
It’s a constant message to us to not be tempted to measure by world’s standards. In 1 Corinthians Paul says – Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. And again Paul, in 2 Corinthians highlights the need to turn away from worldly measures when he looks at the many privileges, he was given by God compared to the other Apostles: Because of these surpassingly great revelations I received, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
It’s interesting that last phrase – God’s power is made perfect in weakness – and yet in churches we are tempted to look for strengths and overcome our weaknesses. When we hear the Census results – 43.9% or the National church life survey which usually paints a very grim outlook for the church – are we trying to focus on the wrong strength? This is nothing against bigger churches as they too are a blessing from God – but it’s a message to not be disheartened by being a “little flock”. God is with us to encourage us – where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name there I am in the midst of them. Again, we look at Elijah who became despaired to the point of wanting to die. I have had enough, Lord,” he prayed. “Let me die. I am no better than my ancestors.” The people of Israel have broken their agreement with you, destroyed your altars, and killed your prophets with swords. I am the only prophet left, and now they are trying to kill me, too. So, God revealed himself to him. How? A very strong wind blew until it caused the mountains to fall apart and large rocks to break in front of the Lord . But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a quiet, gentle sound (or in some translations – sheer silence). God’s presence was not in the earthly measures of power – wind, earthquake, fire – but in sheer silence.
Again, it’s not to say God isn’t present in the huge mega-churches – but that God is just as much present among us in our smallness. Our other 2 readings speak about faith in God. And remember that when it comes to faith Jesus always talked about “a little faith” – faith as small as a mustard seed. But sometimes we seem to only put faith in God when we have run out of our own strength.
Again, the book of Hebrews directs us away from earthly measurements for hope and to God. The writer says: faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. We are so accustomed to “seeing” results and yet the writer redirects us to faith where often results are not seen to the human eye but to God.
And this is the lesson that Abraham, the father of faith, must learn. God says to Abraham: “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great. But Abraham can’t see that – he says “I am childless – I don’t have an heir”. And God reassures him that he has not forgotten him and will provide an heir that will provide him with so many descendants he won’t be able to count them even though he can’t see that yet nor any indication it might happen in the future. Abraham believed and it was credited to him as righteousness.
But Abraham, like all of humanity, begins to look again at the physical evidence. He has reached the age of 90 and has no child. So he takes matters into his own hands and has a child, not with Sarah, but with his maid Hagar. So he now has the “physical” result – Ishmael – but it is not the “faithful” result – Isaac. Abraham acted in this way because he was afraid that God had forgotten his promise. And that’s why Jesus says – do not be afraid little flock.
Fear has the potential to have us look away from what God has given us to keep us strong in our faith. In our Baptism God made us his child and therefore we must never doubt our position in God’s family. We are heirs of the kingdom – co-heirs with Christ. And the Baptism promise of Jesus is – “I am with you always till the end of the age”. In Holy Communion God brings us strength and comfort knowing that our sins have been forgiven by the body and blood of Christ that was sacrificed on the cross for us. On the cross God made him who had no sin to become our sin so that we would become the righteousness of God. And so with these we are ready for Christ to return even though there is no indication that he is about to return. But no matter what happens in the world nothing can take that away from us.
So the warning Jesus gives – You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour – does not concern us because we are ready. We are ready to enter into the Kingdom and join in the wedding feast because God has given us the Kingdom already. So don’t let Covid, climate emergencies, food shortages, economic downturns or whatever else the world throws at us cause you to fear. Because there is only one thing that is important to know – that our eternal life in heaven is guaranteed. So do no be afraid little flock for it is the father pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
