Sermon - 10-16-22

<p>From time to time our grandchildren stay with us for a few days. A few years ago, when our granddaughter, Vivian, was five years old, she loved to run, as most children do. And, when she stayed with us, she would continually run through the house with Ken chasing her. She would start at the front door, run past the kitchen and dining room, run through the living room, run around the table in the three-season room, and then head back, running through the living room, past the kitchen and dining room and back to the front door, where she would start in all over again.  As she persistently ran this course, she kept saying, “Vivian never gives up, Vivian never gives up!”</p> <p>In today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells the story of a persistent, stubborn widow who simply <strong>never gives up</strong>. I think, far too often, when interpreting this parable, an assumption is made that the unjust judge is God, and we are to relentlessly badger God with our prayers and requests as did this widow who was so persistent with the corrupt judge.  When such an understanding is asserted, we get far too preoccupied with the unattractive comparison of God as an <strong>unjust</strong> judge and consequently we don't get into the <strong>deeper</strong> meaning of what Jesus is communicating. God is not like this corrupt judge, and he is NOT unjust!  This story is a parable, and remember, when we hear a parable, we can place ourselves in any one of the characters.  Also, Jesus’ parables are meant to be cognitive time bombs that shock us into new understandings as we think about them over time. </p> <p>The scene of this parable unfolds in a place that is something like a hall of justice where a judge is seated on his judgement seat and throngs of petitioners are gathered about, some represented by lawyers while others are just shouting their requests from the crowd.  And, this widow is in that crowd <strong>every single day</strong> when the court convenes.  She wants vindication against an unnamed adversary.  She wants <strong>j