Knock, knock, knock.

There’s a knock at the door. Do you hear it?

Knock, knock, knock (harder)

Somebody’s knocking at the door

Is anyone going to open it?

There are times in our lives when it seems like everyone is knocking at our door. The kids need rides; out parent is ill; a project is due; our neighbor needs help, and a crisis hits our family, frequently all in the same week!

These are the times we wonder if we have enough faith to get us through the week. And the events keep coming, don’t they? Events that are worrisome, events that need discernment, events of transition, where we need more than our experience, to get us through.

I have been especially aware of this, these last few months at Shepherd of the Hills, where new diagnoses have fallen on our members, people in and out of the hospital, symptoms going undiagnosed, beloved members of our family who have died, and we want to say "enough."! This has been a time of uncertainty for our family of faith.

These are times when our faith is really tested, both personally and as a family. Now I want to be very clear here: I am not saying that God has purposely caused events so we can be tested; a theme we so often hear, out and about. Rather, I am saying that life’s trials and their consequences can push us to our limits. It is a time where our faith is needed more than ever.

Certainly good things can come out of suffering, our faith can be strengthened, but it sure isn’t how we would prefer it, is it? Our faith, if only the size of a mustard seed, can not only get us through, but along the way, can produce a faith the size of a mulberry tree; full and deep rooted with a strong trunk; a faith that will shelter us during the fast forward pace of our lives. Without that faith, we can stumble pretty hard, and worse, can cause others to stumble.

What causes us to stumble? A few things come to mind. Making choices that are harmful to us; or preferring to go it alone; or talking behind another’s back, promoting revenge instead of reconciliation; or hanging out with people who tempt us into immoral behavior; or being unwilling to invest some time in understanding and applying the wisdom of the Bible that protects us; you know the list. Even unconsciously, our choices can cause us to stumble, and worse can lead others to stumble, because of us.

So we come here hoping to hear something we can carry with us, something that helps us access our faith too. And the clue comes from Scripture. Remember the message last week? The man who ignored the one in need and concentrated on his own comfort until it was too late. In separating himself from the other, he had separated himself from God. Or how about the week before? You must hate your parents, rather than allowing them or anything, to come between you and God.

Now this week we hear these words: "Woe to anyone who causes another to stumble; it would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck, and you were thrown into the sea, than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble". Now an explanation of terms is necessary here: the phrase "little ones" here does not refer to children. We, as adults, are the little ones, vulnerable, fragile, limited in skills and abilities; uncertain of our purpose or direction, often afraid and lonely.

Beware before it’s too late. Hate our mother and father. Better to drown than bring another down. These are pretty strong words from Jesus. At first they make us wonder what happened to the loving, compassionate Jesus? Was he just having a really bad day, or what?!

But I think it is more akin to something else. It reminds me of the desperation parents feel, when we are trying to get some life-saving information across to our children. Instead of hanging on our every word, they often turn a deaf ear to us, brushing us off as out of touch. It is then that our desperation escalates. This is how I imagine Jesus might have felt in trying to give the disciples every teaching he could, before time ran out.

In a nutshell, this passage seems to be saying many things: Be on guard from any sin of yours that may cause another to stumble. When someone sins, help them up by calling them to accountability, not in judgment, but in love. We need more faith and how do we get it? Forgive others if they sin against you, even if it’s 7 times in one day! And finally, don’t expect a reward for being faithful; this is expected of you. The results of doing what is right, is the reward.

For me, the central message of this passage is the importance of faith. If our roots of faith don’t run deep, we can be led astray and cause others to fall. If we don’t have faith, forgiveness is a foreign language. If we don’t have faith, we look to others for direction, who fail us, instead of God.

Jesus is teaching the value of that small mustard seed of faith planted within us. It is there from our Baptism, for us to feed and grow; it is meant to protect us. Jesus is desperate to teach them, and us, the critical importance of our faith, before it is too late. His days are numbered, time is running out for him, and there is an urgency about his message. And I think there is an urgency for us too, before time runs out.

Knock, knock, knock.

When I worked as a Chaplain from 1995-1998 here in Denver, I covered the four major hospitals, where my eyes were opened about the grave importance of faith. Newly released research showed patients with faith had less pain, had shorter stays in the hospital, healed faster, and surgeries were more successful. It was confirmation of what clergy have known for years, but now it had the attention of the medical world.

As a chaplain, my job was not to teach anyone about faith, but rather to help the patient access their own faith, to aid in their healing. With those who had faith, it was a wonderful job of sharing the hope and comfort their faith brought to the bedside. It was also a painful experience for me, to sit beside the one struggling without faith. For now in their crisis of health and faith, they were without a faith community, without any knowledge of who God was, without anything to cling to, during the crisis. It was impossible for them to gather up the hope of their faith from within, as it wasn’t there. Nor was it possible for me to give it to them. It was too late.

I have been thinking about this passage within our own church context. How do we respond to the urgency of this message? What is here for us to intentionally build up our faith, and that of others, so that it is not too late for us? How do we balance the demands of our lives that are real, with the feeding of our faith, that is so essential?

I think this happens most successfully in a small group context. Certainly Jesus spoke to many large crowds and taught in the temple s well. But it was within the context of the 12 disciples, that faith was understood and revealed in life - giving ways.

Something wonderful happens when we gather around the same table of faith. We understand in ways we cannot alone. We experience a sense of connection and support we do not get alone. God speaks to us in and through others in ways that are unmistakable.

Some of you know that since last fall two groups have made a commitment to meet for 34 weeks to study the Bible by reading specific Scripture, and then gathering each week to discuss how that has impacted our lives. It is called Disciples because each of us yearn to be a disciple, but we don’t always know how. In my group, eight of us have met every week, even on Super Bowl Sunday, because there is a deep commitment to knowing who God is in our lives today.

The discussions have been rich and exciting; and a bond of connection around the table has formed. It has been a significant commitment, and as a result a significant benefit.

Then just this week, several of us sat down to talk about the possibility of four new small groups, with a different focus than a foundational Bible study. Companions In Christ, is a spiritual formation small group. Using a resource on finding the grace in our lives, we plan to come together for 9 weeks to share our discoveries, and receive the support, comfort and connection, so important to all of us. It is a way to connect to God and each other.

Yet for all of us, making any commitment these days, is a big decision. We live in a frenetic and fragmented world with many demands pulling us many different ways. There are the real demands of home and family. There is the unrelenting demand of managing our finances. There are the responsibilities of work, school, health and friends, to name only a few.

Down deep, we know that there is more to life than going to work, raising a family and getting ahead, but somehow this takes most of our time and energy. We run, but never catch up, and often fall into bed each night, exhausted with it all. As a result you and I are vulnerable for stumbling.

Over the last few weeks, Jesus has said to us, "Beware". Don’t let the demands of your lives take all your time and energy, for they will always be there. Make time for me and I will help keep you from stumbling. Being connected to others and to God is the whole point of the Bible. Love God and love each other. That’s it. That’s all there is.

But, of course, it doesn’t just happen. Learning how is the key. Going it alone is nearly impossible, but a small group provides a time, a place, a resource, and friends that provide a way to get connected with God and each other.

I think Jesus is saying, "If you only have faith the size of a mustard seed, it is enough to come to a class, and say nothing, if you like. A mustard seed faith is enough to read the Lenten Devotional booklet each day; it is enough to pray one sentence to God, even if you have never prayed before. A mustard seed of faith is enough to sign up for the dinners for eight, about to start. It is even enough to join a small group.

We don’t have to have faith the size of a mulberry tree before we dip our foot into the pool of faith. We can come just as we are. And when we do, like the paralytic that Jesus healed by the pool, we are a new person. Once we lay down our excuses, our control, or our own discomfort, it is then we are ready to connect with God and others.

There are healing pools in this place we call Shepherd of the Hills. Places where we can dip our toes in to test the waters. Places that offer strength and support instead of more demand and stress. Places that feed us instead of drain us.

But you and I want guarantees before we make commitments. We want answers to our questions first. That’s what happened with the Disciples group. We all had questions: Did we have the time? What about our other commitments? Would it be too hard for us to understand? Would we be embarrassed, not knowing the Bible?

None of us had the answers before the first meeting, yet each of us, held on tight to our mustard seed faith and jumped into the pool. And we found something beyond what we ever could ever imagine. We found a safe place that would help keep us from stumbling. We learned that God can change our mustard seed, into a mulberry tree of faith, for another.

Knock, knock, knock.

Listen, do you hear it?

Somebody’s knocking at your door.

Knock, knock, knock.

He seems to be saying, "May I come in?

I have something important to give you.

Amen