Mustard seeds and cows

Matthew 17:14-20

Matthew's recollection of the healing of the epileptic child is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it is so affirming--Jesus tells his befuddled disciples that the practice of faith is not as complicated as they make it--simply believe with a speck of faith--a grain of mustard--and they can move mountains. But on the other hand, it is so honest--the disciples really cannot do a blessed thing. Jesus has to intervene because his followers are more than completely inept--and that, ladies and gentlemen, is the God's honest truth about the community of faith--we get in our own way more than we should.

The issue, then, is how to get to the good news despite the bad news. How do we get to that wondrous place where just a speck of faith goes a long way? How do we overcome our predilection for self-defeat?

For instance, a congregation ran into a problem. The church sat in a mountain valley adjacent to a dairy farm. The farmer was less than stalwart in keeping his fences mended and the cows would wander from the pasture into the cemetery behind the church. The cows found the floral arrangements left to honor the family and friends of the congregation a regular salad bar of good eats, but, of course, the family and friends of the dearly departed did not take kindly to their offerings becoming cow feed, nor to having to negotiate a minefield of cow flop to pay their respects. It got so bad that the Session of that congregation had to address the issue. This being a rural congregation, there were a couple of Elders who had the brilliant idea of opening hunting season on hoofed quadrupeds unwelcome in cemeteries. So convincing were they in their arguments that the Session nearly voted unanimously to carry through with it. But one Elder made an alternative suggestion at the last minute. Justified as they might be, the Elder simply asked the three dairy farmers on the Session what their reaction would be should someone declare open season among their herds. The response was quick and sure--it would be open season on the miscreants who did so. The Session immediately saw the reason in not wanting open warfare to blaze forth in their mountain valley. So, they put their heads together and tried to figure out a mustard seed approach that might bring peace--something they could actually do in and of themselves that cared for everybody.

Stopping to consider God can lead to such wisdom.

Hearing this story, my inclination is to think that the Elder who led to reason was led by God to his assessment and question. He saw that what was needed was a way that preserved the church, keeping it from destroying any chance for reconciliation with a difficult neighbor--they needed to embody Christ's love even for someone they did not like. Likewise, he wanted to come up with something that might allow the neighbor to see how to be neighborly, too. Dead cows would surely reveal the problem, but not in a way that allowed him to rectify the harm done, but rather perhaps lead him to worse reaction. Wisdom allowed for the opportunity for the neighbor to become a neighbor, aware of the church's need and aware of his ability to love his neighbors by corralling his cattle.
That is what Christ wants from his disciples--to assess themselves as they are, to see their need for God to lead them, and for them to act accordingly. If they will do that, they could help the boy, his father, and themselves.

All it takes is a modicum of faith--a speck--which is no more than trusting God to be God; i.e., good with abounding grace, and letting God, through love, make things right.