How to Be an Unjust Vessel of Grace
Our epistle today from 2 Timothy tells us that “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”
That does sound like Paul, doesn’t it? Bless his heart.
You can practically hear him harrumph at the end of that. Paul can be a great theologian when he’s not getting too hung up on gender roles, but he does get a wee bit stuffy and uptight-sounding from time to time.
The word “inspired” comes from roots connected to the word “breath.” The breath of God, the wind of the Holy Spirit, can blow through any verse of scripture and breathe new life into it, but it is up to us to open our hearts and minds to that inspiration by applying our holy gifts of creativity and imagination to these old stories that we have heard a thousand times before.
Take for example our gospel lesson, the story of the widow and the unjust judge that Luke tells us Jesus related to teach us about the need to pray always and not give up heart.
The widow convinces the unjust judge to change his mind and grant her justice because of her annoying persistence.
Whom do we usually cast in the role of the unjust judge?
God. Continue reading