Real readiness

Have you ever collected fortunes? You know, the little paper sayings that are inside cookies at Chinese restaurants? Every now and then one will come along, and I will stick it in my wallet or pin it to my bulletin board.

Later on, I’ll find that fortune and wonder what ever possessed me to keep it. Surely it was not how to learn how to say “cat” in Chinese. The message must have spoken to me somehow.

I remember one that didn’t sound very Chinese, but did sound an awful lot like Jesus, which may be why I kept it. It said: “Your faith will overcome your fear.” 

Today's Gospel lesson is a collection of Jesus’ sayings which, if we aren’t paying close attention, might sound to us like those fortune cookies sayings we’ve tucked into our wallets or read aloud before throwing it away.

Jesus begins by reminding us not to be afraid. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (12:32)  Next, we hear him urging us to make treasure for ourselves treasures in heaven, where they will be safe from theft or decay. Then Jesus gives us a hypothetical scenario where some servants are blessed because they were dressed and their lamps lit ready for action for the moment their master returns. And how pleased is the master? He is so pleased that he has them sit down and he serves them!

The Gospel today closes with an obvious statement: if the householder knew when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

Here we have a group of Jesus’ words and teachings about that have been strung together to remind us not to be anxious, or worried, or afraid. The Gospel reminds that Jesus, instead, want us to focus on God kingdom, assured that, when we do, all our needs will be met.

It sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? Making indestructible treasures for ourselves is how we stay ready for the Master’s imminent arrival.

Except that we are afraid, anxious, and distractable. You know what I mean… it’s like the urge you get to touch a wall when there’s a “wet paint”sign hanging there. I mean, it feels like Jesus telling us not to be anxious is like telling us not think of pink elephants. Then that’s all we can think about!

Besides, we always want to be ready, just in case. But that readiness can show up in silly ways. For example, I carry an umbrella in my car, because it’s Florida in August and you just know it’s going to rain between 3 and 5 o’clock every day because it just will. So when I am inside when it starts to rain, I have to decide if I am going to get myself wet running to my car to get it … or I’ll get wet going from the driver’s seat to the trunk to get my umbrella to keep me dry… or just wait the storm out, sometimes looking at the radar on my phone to see when the blob of rain will pass by.

It did not take me long after moving to Tampa Bay to learn about Rule #7… which is one of meteorologist Denis Phllips seven rules for coping with Florida’s changeable weather. And you all know what Rule #7 is right? Yup! “Don’t freak out.”

So I felt that I was ahead of the game when I moved down here, because I brought with me a box for winter emergencies… I call it a “blizzard box.” Now I use the same box but have changed the label on top to “hurricane box.” No freaking out for me! No, sir! I just don’t know what I’ll do with those fancy handwarmers.

Rule #7 speaks to one of the strange truths about people: That for many of us, the deepest faith we have is faith the faith we have in our fears. I mean we have to have a rule that explicitly says "Don't freak out!" This is not the same as the fear of the Lord, the deep awe and reverence for God, that the Bible tells us is the beginning of wisdom. All to often we get caught up in the perverse faith that focuses on our fears and makes us want to freak out at the drop of a hat.

Jesus tells us in Luke not to be afraid, but that doesn’t mean we are to be inactive or inattentive. We are to be dressed for action, to have our lamps lit, to be prepared for the return of the master, to make purses for ourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven no thief can steal, and no moth consumes (12:33). The trick is to be ready without being obsessed or over-thinking.

The truth is that we are all wrong about fear. We think it is our protective shield. We think that by being anxious we are in control.

But fear is a thief and anxiety is a swindler. When we dwell on our fears, they become our treasures. Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (12:35). Faith is the genuine treasure we are to be accumulating, but so often we get it backwards when we allow our fears to fill our hearts so that faith can’t get in.

We have a leg up, though. We know instinctively when the thief is coming. We can feel it when the thief, which is fear and anxiety, is at the door. So, how can we keep our house of faith from being broken into by fear?

Jesus tells us that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. He is promising us the resources to keep fear from stealing our faith. He is promising to turn the tables and to empower our faith to take back our treasure of strength from the thief of fear.

When I was a Chaplain, I knew a doctor who was Hindu. He did a talk once about how to cope with the stress of modern life, and he shared a proverb from his tradition: “Live in the past and you will be depressed. Live in the future and you will be anxious. Live in the present with gratitude and you will be at peace.” For the Christian the message is that instead of being preoccupied with our fear and anxiety, we are invited to live in the present with faith in God’s future.

As we learn to pray, and from there how to turn even the most mundane, everyday chore into a prayer—not only a gift from God but a gift to God—then we find our orientation shifting away from fear and towards faith. From scarcity towards abundance. From pessimism to hope.

As we enter to the rhythm of sacramental living—of Eucharistic community, daily prayer, and studying and meditating on God’s word together and alone—we find ourselves more and more immersed in God’s time, in living in God’s always unfolding present.

The last time I cleaned out my wallet, I found two old fortunes:

“An unexpected event will bring you wealth,” and “If you put up with small annoyances you will gain great results.”

Who knows why I kept them? Who knows if they will come true?  But move over fear and jump back anxiety, because here are some promises of Jesus that are more reliable than fortune cookies! He said, “Strive for God’s kingdom and these things (food, drink, clothing) will be given to you as well.” (Luke 12:31) So, “Do not be afraid….” (Luke 12:32)

Jesus is the promise and the antidote to the fear that lives in our hearts and our communities. And his peace is our strength.

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Scripture for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 14, Year C, August 10, 2025

Website for Church of the Good Samaritan (Episcopal), Clearwater

Learn more about the Diocese of Southwest Florida here

Here is the bulletin for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, August 10, 2025, the Church of the Good Samaritan, Clearwater, Florida.

Here is the livestream of the liturgy. The sermon begins at XX:XX