Let us pray: O God, let your word speak through these words, even if you need to keep on trying to get through. Amen.

    In the commentary that accompanies the resource which we use in planning both Sunday worship and Church School, the following is offered at the end of the background information relating to this week’s passages: “Many life experiences call for persistence. God will never be diverted from seeking to institute justice, peace, and grace everywhere. As disciples, we are called to embrace the discipline of persistence in prayer and in seeking the gifts of God’s reign for all. What is the role of the faith community in supporting persistence in individual members? What does it mean for you and your church to live with confidence that God will prevail?”

    There is a challenge there in those two final questions, for us as a faith community, and as individuals in this faith community.

    The basis for these questions, of course, comes from the parable which Lloyd read a few moments ago, the parable of the persistent widow. I’ve always found it to be a curious little story. There are lots of good reasons for persistence to pay off, but this story doesn’t choose any of them. Instead, Jesus’ story has the judge give in simply because he is tired of being bothered. by this widow who keeps on seeking the justice she deserves. It is the judge’s own self-interest that pays off for the widow rather than any altruistic sense of doing what is right and just. The parable comes down on the “yes” side of the old question:  “does the end justify the means”. It doesn’t matter what the judge’s motivation is for granting justice as long as justice prevails.

    I would hate to emphasise that side of the story, however, because of the kind of behaviour that might result. The focus instead, should be on the side of the widow who would not quit. “Persistence pays off” is the clear message of the parable, even against seemingly insurmountable odds.

    Alongside this call for persistence in prayer and in the seeking of God’s justice, there are at least three different topics calling for attention on this day.

Number 1: Our bulletin cover reminds us that World Food Day was marked last Tuesday. It is no coincidence that the Week to End Poverty as was noted during the worship service last week, is clearly connected with the theme of this year’s Food Day, namely “The Right to Food”.

Number 2: As we’ve already seen and heard, today also marks the beginning of our five week focus on stewardship, culminating on Celebration Sunday on November 18.

And finally, Number 3, this day on which we celebrate Tydzeh’s baptism.
    
    A few moments ago, we as a congregation, along with Tydzeh’s parents and godparents stood and promised our commitment to be a part of Tydzeh’s faith community. That promise alone invites persistence on our part. But what does it mean to be part of Tydzeh’s faith community? It means being in partnership as a community of people that celebrates living in God’s reign and hoping to live in God’s reign. It is both here now and yet to come - we celebrate who we are and what we can become - we are stewards of the blessings, the creation in which we live, the talents we’ve been given, so that we live in thanksgiving and so that people of Tydzeh’s generation and the generations that come after him can also live in thanksgiving. It’s about living as people of faith - who know that God is part of our lives, but that we also can be better about taking care of everything that God has given us, and making sure that it lasts beyond our own needs. That includes the equitable distribution of food and other resources.

    Stewardship is about living faithfully. Stewardship is about putting justice as it relates to the use of resources, first. Stewardship is about the promises we make in baptism to be God’s people, to share the story and to respond to the call that the story makes in our lives.

    We’ve been reading through the writings of the prophet Jeremiah over the past several weeks. At times it it is a pretty depressing journey. Jeremiah did not have an easy message to tell. But today we heard the promise. Today I will make a new covenant, says God. Jeremiah kept on telling the story, even if it was hard, and his persistence paid off with the promise that was part of the reading today.

    I began with that quote from this week’s commentary, which asked: What is the role of the faith community in supporting persistence in individual members? What does it mean for you and your church to live with confidence that God will prevail?”

    I believe the answer lies in part with what we’ve done this day. If we live out the promise we made in Tydzeh’s baptism, not just for him, but for all whom we meet in this community of faith that we know as the body of Christ, then our persistence will result in persistence all around. And secondly, our simple act of gathering in worship each week, is one way that we express our confidence that God will prevail. That’s only part of a faithful life, the rest gets lived out in the choices we make as stewards of God’s blessing in the world. In short, it’s about keeping on... Amen.