Sermon for the Fifteenth Sunday or Ordinary Time 2025

Luke 17:5-10

“8 Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace.”​​ That, of course, is an apt summary of the call of God on all of our lives. We are to continue in faith, not relying on our own strength to be saved from sin and death, but trusting in God that his purpose and grace are sufficient. And the content of this gospel? The life and ministry, death, resurrection, ascension of Jesus Christ, and his coming again, all of which accomplished in the words of St. Paul, “This grace…has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 

This exposition by St. Paul well summarizes and complements the Gospel reading today, in which Luke accounts how Jesus answered a question about faith. First, let’s set the stage a bit. The chapter began with him laying on his disciples the responsibility of leading, of discipling others. But this is a significant responsibility; he makes clear that if one of them goes astray, they must respond by correcting the failure, but also to forgive, both necessary to ensuring loving unity. And this is important because if they lead another astray, it would be better to be thrown into the sea with a weight around their neck. To follow Jesus is no small thing, when the time comes for us to lead others.

And so, feeling the weight of the commission Jesus is handing to them, the disciples appeal: “Increase our faith!” Jesus’s reply is telling: “‘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.” We should see this as having a layered meaning to it. The first is as an encouragement, assuring them that with even the littlest of faith, they can do great things and will be empowered to carry out God’s mission on earth. However, the second layer of meaning is the other side of the coin: the example of an improbable act, ie throwing trees around, suggests that he is saying they do not have even such a little faith, exemplified by the culturally self-evidently “smallest thing,” a mustard seed.

Jesus then dives into another analogy, one that Luke enjoys using quite often: the slave and the master. In this setting, he outlines a situation where slaves do their jobs, the basic thing expected of them in their situation in life. “Do you expect thanks?” he asks, “when you just do what you are supposed to? Are you expecting a reward?” This, of course, to our modern ears sounds quite harsh. It is important to note that this is just an analogy, and one that is appealing to a social institution that was basically universal in their society. This is not a justification for slavery, but is pointing to an all-too common situation one might encounter. Along with that, the analogy is pointing to the relationship between humanity and God, which is, to put it bluntly, the only relationship where the concept of master and slave can find any justification, because God of course is the creator and ruler of all, and we but God’s creatures. Even so, he calls us sons and daughters, and this should be primarily seen as what it is: an analogy to make a point.

That point is this: Obediently following Jesus Christ is the result of faith. And because that is the case, when truly faithful, our obedient following of Jesus cannot be motivated by the desire for reward. Expecting thanks as slaves for doing their jobs is not a matter of good manners, but of social expectations. When they do the base minimum expected, they are simply living out the basic lifestyle of the disciple. Kids, this is similar to what it’s like for you sometimes. Sometimes, you guys follow the rules just because you have to. I get that. But I know that sometimes, you follow the rules because you know that is the better way to live. Let’s say there is one cookie left. You might take it even though your bro/sis wants it. Or, maybe you let them take it, but only grumpily, because you wanted it but know you’re expected to be kind to them. When that happens, you are living in selfishness, because you’re focused on yourself. Living in faith is different: Living in faith, which means that you trust God, and you know that God has given you more love and care than you can even imagine, than you naturally want to show care to others. Living in faith is when you look at your bro/sis, and inside you feel the desire to give them the cookie, not because you have to, but because you want to, because you love them. And that love for them comes from the love God has for you.

The problem, or the question here, is not whether you will be rewarded with immortal life and experiencing the presence of God for ever. That is guaranteed. But it is guaranteed by Jesus Christ, and what he has done, not by you simply being a disciple who understands what the role means. We must have humility; we do not live in obedience out of our astounding ability, and we are not doing God a favor. We aren’t spiritual adepts when we avoid scandal, when we forgive each other, or when we exercise faith. We’re just living out precisely what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, which is to follow him motivated by love, because he is the one who, when we were his enemies, loved us. To have expectations of God when we do so is to be presumptuous, to make our relationship with God transactional: I did for you, you do for me. But it is a relationship based on love, overflowing, self-giving love. Will that result in a life better lived? I believe so. Will your reward be more than you could ever hope to earn? By definition, because Jesus is who won it for you. And as Paul says, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.” 

Following Jesus will bring a reward. But, paradoxically, to follow Jesus expecting reward is somehow antithetical to faith. No, as disciples, we live in obedience because we love him, because he loved us first and will love us into New Creation and everlasting life. To God be the glory for lives well lived, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.