WEBVTT 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:05.840 Blessed be God. 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:08.800 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:10.159 Blessed be God. 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:15.280 Now let's pray together. 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:18.319 Almighty God, under whom all hearts. 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:32.720 The Lord be with you. 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:35.920 Let us pray. 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:42.720 O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity. 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:51.519 Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure. 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:57.839 Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. 00:05:58.399 --> 00:05:58.800 Amen. 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:00.319 Please be seated. 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:20.079 Now Samuel was ministering in the presence of the Holy Roman. 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:29.759 A boy dressed in a red cloud, a little robe that his mother would make for him, and bring up the offer for the early sacrifice. 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:37.680 And Eli would dress like the blessed Alcana and his wife and say, May the Holy One repay you. 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:47.920 And then they would return to their home. 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:55.920 And the faithful one attended Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to two daughters and three sons. 00:06:56.160 --> 00:07:00.240 And the boy Samuel grew up there in the presence of the living God. 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:07.279 Now the boy Samuel went on and grew in goodness with the Most High and with humanity. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:09.519 The word of the Lord. 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:16.399 The psalm for today is Psalm 144. 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:19.839 We will read responsibly by the half-verse. 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:28.000 Or the woman born that you think of them. 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:31.120 Humanity is like a breath. 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:39.199 Our sons in their youth are like plants full grown. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:44.399 Our daughters are like our building of a palace. 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:48.879 Our barns are full for produce of every kind. 00:07:49.279 --> 00:07:52.160 Our sheep are thousands. 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:54.079 Many thousands are. 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:08.959 Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall. 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:13.680 Happy are the people who God is the Lord of life. 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:53.840 Although rejected by humanity, we have chosen and precious son of God. 00:08:54.720 --> 00:09:08.480 And I myself, like living stones, have been built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, and to offer spiritual sacrifice that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:12.559 And thus scripture contains the following. 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:25.519 See, I am laid in Zion a stone, a cornerstone, a chosen, a precious, and whoever believes in that stone will not be put to shame. 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:31.200 To you all who believe in it, a precious honor. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:45.200 But for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cause, and a stumbling stone and a rock overheads. 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:51.679 They stumble over the word disobey or disobedient by design. 00:09:52.799 --> 00:10:10.720 Yet you all are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own possession, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of God who called you out of shadow into God's marvelous eye. 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:16.320 Once I'm not a people, and now I am God's people. 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:21.360 Once I reft of mercy, and now I'm a rich of mercy. 00:12:54.559 --> 00:13:04.559 Now when they, Jesus, John, and Peter, came to the disciples after the transfiguration, they saw a great crowd around them and some scholars arguing with them. 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:07.840 And the whole crowd of women, children, and men saw Jesus. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:11.759 They were immediately overcome with awe and they ran forward to greet him. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:15.840 Then Jesus asked them, What are you all arguing about with them? 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:22.960 Someone from the crowd answered him, Teacher, I brought my child to you who has a spirit of speechlessness. 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:30.720 Whenever it overtakes my child, it throws them down and they foam, they grind their teeth, and my child becomes paralyzed. 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:35.039 And I asked your disciples to cast it out, and your disciples were not able. 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:41.440 Then Jesus answered them, saying, O faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you all? 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:43.759 How much longer must I bear with you? 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:46.000 Bring the child to me. 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:48.559 And they brought the child to Jesus. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:56.480 When the Spirit saw the child, immediately it threw the child into convulsions, who then fell on the ground rolling and foaming. 00:13:56.720 --> 00:14:00.159 Then Jesus asked the parent, How long has this been happening? 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:07.120 And the parent said, For childhood, often has it cast the child into fire and into water to destroy the child. 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:12.799 Yet if you are able to do anything to help us, have pity on us. 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:19.759 Jesus said to the parent, If you are able, all things can be done for the one who believes. 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:27.360 Immediately the child's parent cried out with tears, I believe, help my unbelief. 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:41.519 And when Jesus saw that a crowd of women, children, and men came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, You spirit of speechlessness and deafness, I command you, come out of the child and never enter the child again. 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:46.000 After crying out and throwing the child into more convulsions, it came out. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:50.879 And the child was like the dead, so much so that many said he is dead. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:56.399 Yet Jesus took the child by the hand and lifted the child up, and the child was able to stand. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:15:02.960 When Jesus had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why were we not able to cast it out? 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:09.200 And he said to them, This kind can come by nothing but prayer and fasting. 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:16.799 Praise be to thee, Lord Christ. 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:42.080 I've been involved in church since before I was born. 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:45.200 That's a true statement, and it goes uninterrupted. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:48.240 Like nine months before I was born, I was involved in church. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:52.080 And I have to say, I've never seen this play out in front of people. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:58.720 I've never seen somebody with chromistic seizures. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:02.879 Somebody is missing a limb. 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:12.799 Uh you may, I've never seen somebody in my presence dramatically. 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:26.960 I've prayed for people to be, but I haven't seen anything like this. 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:38.320 So what I want to share with you is what I'm trying to do with this, that I have not seen. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:42.960 If you've seen it, you probably don't need to hear anything I have to say. 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:49.600 You may not need to anything, but that's what I want to share. 00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:52.399 Because for me, this is a struggle. 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:53.759 How do I do this? 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:56.080 Do you do it? 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:00.159 Do this. 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:13.359 And if you've been coming for a while, it's probably uh I don't need to introduce, but I've been struggling with ethnic theology of disability for at least a year and a half. 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:21.839 And particularly in this story, there are a couple of interesting elements for me through study on this. 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:30.160 The child has no agency story. 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:38.640 The parent says that this is a problem. 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:40.720 And I'm not saying it's not a problem. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:47.599 I'm just saying that the child is an object lesson, not a subject lesson. 00:17:54.160 --> 00:18:04.720 I have somebody this week who told me that their mantra would be not my will, yours be done, and I appreciate that. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:15.920 This story has mine, I believe, helped me overcome my unbelief. 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:24.000 I treasure that phrase greatly because I don't know your background. 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:25.839 I can just speak to my own. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:31.519 And by no means am I blaming anybody in my background for that I have this impression. 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:35.279 But I grew up with the idea that God owes us health. 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:38.960 God owes us functionality. 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.920 It's our right. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:52.640 So if something is physically not right in us, however we use that word right, God ought to fix it. 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:54.720 And God will. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:34.480 Our brains are not supposed to be neurodivergent. 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:37.759 They're all supposed to be like the same and really efficient and work really hard. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:40.400 And if we just believe, God will give it to us. 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:43.200 If you don't believe enough, it's your fault. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:48.720 It's this brilliant circular logic. 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:58.160 Because it's always weird that God wants our bodies to be perfect. 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:10.240 It doesn't make any sense to me anymore. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:19.839 Particularly because this man has faith that he has done. 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:23.680 Isn't that compelling? 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:27.680 I believe and I don't, and I know I don't. 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:29.599 And I do and I don't. 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:32.000 And that's where I live most of the week. 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:35.200 That's where I live most of the times. 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:37.599 I want to be somebody who follows Jesus. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:40.559 I believe and I don't. 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:47.200 Help me overcome my unbelief. 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:58.640 And this is exactly what I think Peter reminds us of Jesus is a living cornerstone, and sometimes we get to be built up, and sometimes we trip over it. 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:00.480 We stumble. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:15.200 And I want to share, I've said this before, sometimes I think one of the things that we trip over is the idea that God wants us to be fully able to do. 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:18.640 And if we had enough faith, God would do it. 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:21.759 I don't think that's a living cornerstone. 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:23.359 I think it's a stumbling block. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:26.240 Or else I just don't have enough faith. 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:27.599 You see how it goes? 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:39.519 Sometimes I'm afraid we build the dead cornerstones, not living ones. 00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:48.240 Because the truth is, if God wants us all perfectly abled and you see somebody who isn't, what can you have for them except pity? 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:50.720 Pity that they don't believe enough. 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:59.839 Because if they did, then they'd be normalized and functional, and they wouldn't have neurodivergence, and they wouldn't have ADHD, and they wouldn't have you prone to seizure. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:03.200 Because God doesn't want any of that stuff. 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:09.920 And I'd like to suggest that's a stumbling block because you, like nobody else, want anybody else's pity. 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:14.079 What you'd like is somebody else's consideration. 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:16.559 Well, I think that's right. 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:20.960 I don't want your pity, because that means I'm less than you. 00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:27.200 What I'd love is your consideration, because then we get to coexist on the same plane. 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:36.880 And again, this story is not predicated on whether Dad believes enough. 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:39.599 He doesn't believe enough. 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:42.319 I mean, that's what he says. 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:44.559 I don't believe enough. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:49.920 Help me with what I don't believe. 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:59.680 I want to say that's where I find myself as somebody who would like to be a disciple. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:09.039 So I've been talking to a few folks offline for the last couple of weeks about this other idea I got that has been a stumbling block for me for a long time. 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:11.039 And maybe you're familiar with it, and maybe you love it. 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:13.279 I don't want to take it away from you if you love this. 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:17.440 The idea goes like this: God has a perfect plan for your life. 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:19.759 One perfect plan. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:23.200 And you need to make sure you don't miss it. 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:26.319 Because if you miss it, you'll never get back there. 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:31.839 Sort of like this line, and if you miss it, the best you can do is just be support. 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:38.000 Now, maybe God's plan isn't predicated on what you pick at the salad bar today. 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:40.400 Maybe those are insignificant choices. 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:45.920 But it sure is based on what you choose to major in or where you go to college. 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:48.319 You better get that right. 00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:55.440 Or you're going to live for less than perfection, because perfection means there's no mistake, there's no margin of error. 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:58.480 It's either one way or it's wrong. 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:04.000 And I sure think that's a stumbling block. 00:24:06.319 --> 00:24:12.079 Because me as a person, as a parent, as a colleague, I'm better than that. 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:18.400 If my kids make a decision I don't like, it doesn't mean their lives are over, does it? 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:20.799 It means what are we gonna do now? 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:34.799 So instead of God having one plan that you better get right, I mean, really, maybe God looks at every decision we make and charts an infinite catalog of possibilities that happens next. 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:37.759 Alright, so you pick to major in film. 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:43.440 We can do something with that. 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:47.200 Okay, you chose to major in math. 00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:49.279 Maybe we can do something with that. 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:53.680 Okay, you pick the garbanzo beans and not the Fava beans. 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:55.519 Alright, what's next? 00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:04.480 This idea of perfection, meaning there's no variance. 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:08.640 Well, I've decided that's a stumbling block for me. 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:12.720 And boy, that makes God really weak, doesn't it? 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:14.400 Really weak. 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:16.640 Follow that to its logical conclusion. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:19.200 If you ever make a mistake, why try anymore? 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:20.720 You already blew it. 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:24.559 Instead of wow. 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:26.079 Like there's hope. 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:29.440 And I'm telling you I believe this and I don't believe it at all. 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:32.799 Because when my kids make a mistake, it's over. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:33.599 You know? 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.920 That's my reaction. 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:38.079 I'd like it to be true. 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:42.720 God help my unbelief when somebody cuts me off in traffic. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:48.559 God help my unbelief when my neighbor puts on a political sign that makes me think you just want me to know you're dumb. 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:53.440 I believe. 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:57.839 Help me overcome my unbelief. 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:04.480 The God of infinite possibilities. 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:11.440 Now I have this friend who you heard from a couple weeks ago, Sean Steele, and we got together this week, and he said, What are you preaching on? 00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:14.319 And I said, Well, I'm preaching a different lectionary from you. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:18.480 And uh, so we really didn't get to have the conversation we normally would have had. 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:21.039 But what was really great is I said, but what are you doing? 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:29.279 And Sean, unlike me, he really likes to use old words that in some ways I've found real abusive and have a hard time with them. 00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:33.279 But he likes to redefine them and continue using those words like sovereign. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:36.559 I learned as a kid that God is sovereign. 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:42.640 And I struggle with that because the truth is 40,000 children are gonna starve to death this week. 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:48.559 And I have a really hard time reconciling my idea of sovereignty with that fact. 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:50.079 By the way, that's a fact. 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:53.440 22 veterans are likely going to kill themselves today. 00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:57.920 I have a really hard time reconciling sovereignty with that. 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:02.079 I hope you do too. 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:14.319 And of course, what Sean said that is so fantastic is that we stumble over sovereignty when we conflate it with control. 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:22.079 Control is my version of sovereignty. 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:26.880 That's when my kids do exactly what I tell them, because I do know better than they do. 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:28.720 And by the way, I probably do. 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:33.920 They'd be at least as miserable as I am if they did everything I told them. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:37.119 Sovereignty is about getting your way. 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:41.680 That's how you show you're really in control. 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:48.559 Of course, the scriptures offer us a different version of sovereignty. 00:27:48.799 --> 00:28:00.160 One in which, to quote Paul's epistle to the Romans, God is able to work all things to the good of those who love God. 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:15.599 So, what if we stumble over the idea of control when instead we're invited to build a living temple in which no matter what you do, God is sovereign enough to fix it? 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:19.039 Maybe fix this with the right word. 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:28.640 Maybe God is sovereign enough to turn it to your good and to the good of the world. 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:37.519 Which definition of sovereignty takes more power for you? 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:48.240 Somebody who has to have their own way in everything you do, or someone who can take anything you do and have their own way. 00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:55.200 I stumble over sovereignty as control. 00:28:57.599 --> 00:29:04.079 But I think God is greater than that. 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:06.160 I believe it. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:18.559 God helped me overcome my unbelief when other people stumble in my eyes, when I don't meet my own expectations. 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:21.359 Otherwise, what are we left with? 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:26.480 God gives leukemia to a child to teach us a lesson? 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.880 That's gross. 00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:30.640 I hope you'll agree. 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:32.079 That's gross. 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:38.000 Leukaemia happens, and it's catastrophic. 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:41.440 And what I'm saying doesn't take away from it. 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:44.880 But what I'm saying, I think, is some good news. 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:49.839 There is nowhere we go where God isn't going with us. 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:54.160 And there is no thing that happens that God cannot. 00:29:57.200 --> 00:30:00.000 Rede's not quite the right word, is it? 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:04.400 Work to our good. 00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:11.599 Otherwise, we're left with a puppet master in the sky who does things we know are wrong. 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:13.519 We know are wrong. 00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:18.400 I believe. 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:23.519 But God helped me overcome my unbelief. 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:26.880 Now, I've mentioned this story before. 00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:33.759 I have this friend who uh works at a big uh big firm as a corporate attorney. 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:39.200 And even years ago, she would say to me, you know, I make more money than I know what to do with. 00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:41.759 And I thought, I'd love to have that problem. 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:43.279 Uh so she would say this, right? 00:30:43.359 --> 00:30:47.839 And she wasn't making millions of dollars, but she was making doing great, you know. 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:56.799 And uh then a couple weeks later, she asked me, she said, Do you give 10% of your income like to church? 00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:00.559 And I said, Yeah, I do, actually. 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:05.920 And she said, Well, I look at how much that would be, and I can't give that away. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:09.920 But I make more money than I know what to do with. 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:12.960 I believe. 00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:15.279 Did you see? 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:21.440 God help me overcome my unbelief. 00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:28.079 I don't have a good object lesson for this right now, but I will tell you, 8 o'clock. 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:37.119 We had this little baby in here who has been pretty quiet, but today was being alive, you know? 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:40.480 Today was being alive. 00:31:41.119 --> 00:31:46.319 And this is a gift of this congregation, whether you know it or not, it's a gift, because nobody does this. 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.920 You do this, right? 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:52.720 I believe that children should be in church. 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:56.160 Sometimes I worry about when I hear that. 00:31:57.599 --> 00:32:07.119 You have helped me overcome my unbelief, especially when it was my kid. 00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:08.720 Because it was. 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:12.960 You were right. 00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:18.000 And if I had to say why we do this at all, it's because of that. 00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:33.599 Because without you, I wouldn't have this community that perpetually helps me overcome my unbelief. 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:42.160 I wouldn't have this group of people that I want to be like when I grow up, if that ever happens. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:48.400 Because there are the things I believe, and there's this unbelief. 00:32:51.279 --> 00:33:02.880 And we help each other with God's help overcome our unbelief, which is why I come back most weeks. 00:33:05.920 --> 00:33:09.200 It's why I need to come back. 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:18.000 Because I don't do a very good job overcoming my own unbelief by myself. 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:28.079 I don't know what it is that you believe and don't. 00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:35.119 I don't know what it is that you believe and don't. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:44.720 But I do know that probably each of us, like the man in this story, is desperate for something. 00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:48.960 He's desperate. 00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:50.160 Do you see it? 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:57.039 And maybe desperation is enough to believe him. 00:33:58.640 --> 00:34:02.799 If we can't admit that we're desperate, I think we're lying to ourselves. 00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:10.880 But if we can say, yeah, I'm desperate for this, help me overcome my unbelief. 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:13.039 Well, then I think we can start on something. 00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:32.079 I think we can start, and as I've often found the case to be, and Jesus concludes this section, he says, This kind can only come out through prayer. 00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:33.039 Do you see that word? 00:34:33.199 --> 00:34:34.159 Through prayer. 00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:35.840 Through prayer. 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:41.199 And I'm not silly. 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:44.079 I'm really not silly on this. 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:56.719 Because all the mystics that I've read, I mean the people who know way more than I do, knowledge-wise, wisdom-wise, faith-wise, they say the purpose for prayer is not to change God. 00:34:57.760 --> 00:35:02.320 The purpose of prayer is to change us. 00:35:04.639 --> 00:35:09.360 I believe that and I don't believe it, because I want God to fix all my problems, don't you? 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:12.079 And I pray that way. 00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:13.519 Fix my problems. 00:35:13.679 --> 00:35:14.800 Take away my grief. 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:16.320 I don't want a ticket. 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:20.480 Let me get an A on this test, I'll be a nun. 00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:22.639 This is the kind of stuff that we do. 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:38.159 Jesus reminds us that when we see somebody who's different from us, we only fix that problem through prayer. 00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:45.199 Here's somebody that maybe is having a seizure. 00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:48.719 Do I pray for God to fix them? 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:54.400 Or through prayer, might God fix the way I relate to them? 00:35:56.480 --> 00:36:00.239 And when people are in pain, we go to the doctor. 00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:02.880 There's nothing redemptive about suffering. 00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:11.599 But I think we always have to ask ourselves, is this person who seems different from me actually in pain? 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:16.800 Or am I imposing pain on them because they're different from me? 00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:22.960 I've said this before. 00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:31.920 If you don't have the power of speech, should you be pitied? 00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:34.880 God, I hope not. 00:36:35.599 --> 00:36:43.039 Because there is nothing wrong with somebody who does not have the power of speech. 00:36:44.320 --> 00:36:47.360 They have as much love and dignity from God as they will ever have. 00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:56.880 When you see a child with Down syndrome, should they be pitied? 00:36:57.360 --> 00:37:00.719 Because their brain doesn't work like yours. 00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:02.800 God, I hope not. 00:37:04.639 --> 00:37:10.880 Because if I approach them in pity, it means I approach them as less than myself. 00:37:12.880 --> 00:37:16.639 Are we invited to approach them with consideration and empathy, God? 00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:17.760 I hope so. 00:37:20.159 --> 00:37:25.599 When we can't stuff as many envelopes in an hour as our neighbor, are we to be pitied? 00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:34.719 When we can't clear as many pumpkins off the truck as our neighbor in ten minutes, are we to be pitied? 00:37:36.800 --> 00:37:39.280 God, I hope not. 00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:42.719 Which is why we pray. 00:37:44.239 --> 00:37:46.239 We don't pray for cures. 00:37:47.280 --> 00:37:48.480 We pray for healing. 00:37:48.559 --> 00:37:54.159 Because the difference between cure and healing is that you become the way I need you to be when I cure you. 00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:59.440 Healing is when you are who you are and we love you for who you are. 00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:07.360 And in this story, boy, maybe it's easy for Jesus to cure a boy's symptoms than to heal the way the community treats him. 00:38:11.280 --> 00:38:25.119 Maybe it's easier to cure somebody's apparent problems than to heal ourselves of pitying other people because they appear different. 00:38:26.880 --> 00:38:28.880 And isn't that too bad? 00:38:29.679 --> 00:38:31.440 Isn't that too bad? 00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:34.639 I believe.