World Communion Sunday Message
October 3, 2004
Robert D Bohnsack
Text: Lamentations 3:1-16; Luke 17:5-10

We are invited to the table.

We proclaim that all the citizens of the world are invited to the table on this World Communion Sunday. It is an invitation that is extended every time we proclaim the saving grace of Jesus Christ through the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Today, we, the people of the world, come together as Christians to celebrate this sacrament together. Many will celebrate this sacrament in wonderful buildings such as ours, while others may be celebrating it in a big tent while wearing the uniform of this nation. Many will celebrate it in places where they can freely practice their faith while others will be celebrating with someone watching the door and window for the police.

How much is enough?

In the appropriately titled James Bond movie, "The World Is Not Enough," only total control of the world's oil supply will be enough for Renard, a high-tech terrorist. He conspires with the brain-washed daughter of an assassinated oil tycoon to destroy any competing oil pipelines. Fortunately, James Bond, 007, is on the job and prevents Renard from seizing control of the world's oil supply.

The Monday, September 27, 2004, edition of the World Street Journal had a special section entitled, "A Whole New World." Included in the section was a listing of the world's largest companies. General Electric is the largest public company in the world with a market value of $3.4 billion dollars and 1.3 billion in sales for 2003. Ebay is the 66th largest public company with a market value of 5.6 billion dollars and 2 billion dollars in sales for 2003. Boeing, the aircraft maker, is the 100th largest public company in the world with a market value of 44 billion dollars and 50 billion dollars in sales. Boeing had a seven percent drop in sales while Ebay had a 78 percent increase in sales.

Not surprisingly the disciples attempted to quantify their faith. Even in the ancient world we measured in quantities. The person with the most faith must be able to do the most ministry.

The disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith. They asked Jesus to increase their faith because they doubted their own faith and were not confident that their own faith was enough. If we have more we can do better.

We can imagine a conversation the disciples might have had before asking Jesus to increase their faith.

You know if we have more faith we can do more. Yeah, more faith means doing more for our Master. Remember when we were fishermen? If we catch more fish we sell more fish. If we sell more fish we make more money. If we make more money we buy another boat and more nets, and then catch more fish. Plus, we know that faith is a gift from God, so our Master can give us more faith. I think he is going to be really proud of us when we ask for more faith. Finally, we are getting it right. If I have more faith I know I am going to feel a lot more confident about spreading the teachings of Jesus.

Okay, it is settled. More faith is a good thing. Who is going to ask Jesus for more faith?

Of course we know that the conversation between Jesus and the disciples did not go the way the disciples had probably expected. When the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith he did not smile and say, "yes I will give you more faith. I couldn't wait for you to ask." Jesus says, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it would obey you." ¹

Luke does not tell us the reaction of the disciples to Jesus' response to their question. It may have been a bewildered, "huh." Or, even, "what does he mean by that?" We do know that Jesus did not increase their faith in the way they expected. We do know that the disciples continued to be human beings. They persevered in faith. They spread the gospel, healed the sick, preached the Word of God, sinned, and grew in their faith. God worked in the lives of these twelve faithful men. ² Their faith was enough. Their faith was sufficient for them to live by the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. ³

Then Jesus without prompting from the disciples tells the parable of the worthless slave. We want to identify with the master. That seems easy enough. Be nicer to those people that are working so hard for us. We should remember our secretaries, custodians, and lawn folks more than once a year. We should take time to really look the cashier at Ray's in the eye and say, "thank you." We should say thank you to our Sunday School teachers. Yes, we do need to be reminded to say thank you to those who do so much for us.

Well, showing our appreciation is a very nice and pleasant thing to do. But Jesus is hoping that we, the people with the faith the size of a mustard seed, will understand that we are worthless slaves.

We are the hot, tired, hungry, sore, and thirsty slaves or servants that come in from working in the fields all day, and are expected to prepare a meal for the master. Many times we feel like we have earned some recognition or thanks. We have done everything asked of us.

Christ reminds us and the disciples that we are not worthy. We are not worthy of a relationship with God. We are not worthy of grace and forgiveness. We, the slaves to sin, are not worthy of salvation. We have done nothing to earn it. It is not given to us because of all the good things we have done. Salvation is given in spite of who we are. It is given because we are the beloved children of God.

We, the people of mustard seed faith, are asked to do the required and expected. We are asked to do the required and expected with freedom and joy. We do it because God has already done for us what we could not do for ourselves. God did the unexpected.

"Who wants to go to brunch?" Those were my six favorite words when my family lived on Ramstein Air Force Base in the early 1980s. My dad would utter those amazing words as we left the base chapel on a Sunday morning. With that question we were on our way to the Ramstein AFB Officer's Club for a meal that seemed to never end. On the quick drive to the O Club I would assess my hunger, and wish I had not eaten the three previous days. I wished I could increase my hunger. Of course being a young teenager gave me the remarkable ability to eat like that.

Upon arriving at the club I would make a quick assessment of the situation. Omelette Lady check, Crepe Guy check, Buffet line check. Everything was ready. After being seated I would quickly follow my father's lead and head to the buffet line. I grabbed a plate and walked down the line. I gazed at the heaping trays of food, and smelled the wonderful combination of aromas. I started with a big scoop of scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, bacon, sausage patties and links, and then the best part chipped beef on toast, or as it also known, SOS. After filling my plate I would head back to the table and inhale my food. I ate quickly because after the initial course I would head to the omelette table. I politely asked the German woman to make me an omelette with everything. On the way back to our table I would get a few more potatoes and a danish. As the meal progressed I wished my hunger would increase. If I was still hungry I could eat more food. If I was still hungry I could have ordered another omelette. If I was still hungry I could have gone back to the Crepe guy again and again. Alas, even the hunger of a thirteen year old begins to be satisfied. I never ordered two omelettes and I probably only went through the crepe line twice at the most.

The Lord's Table is set before you. It is always ready. You are always invited. The food is abundant. You can always go back for seconds. Come when you are hungry. Come when you feel unworthy. Come when you have not done what is expected. Come. Come not because you have earned it, or deserve it. Come because you are servant of the Lord. Come because you are invited. Come because on our very best days we have the faith the size of a mustard seed. Come because:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is our portion," says our soul, "therefore we will hope in him." The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that we should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. ⁴

1. Luke 17:6.
2. New Interpreter's Bible, Volume XI, p 322.
3. Ibid.
4. Lamentations 3:22-26.