On Not Wasting Time with the Foolish

Preparing for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost: One Day before Sunday (Year A)

Scripture (semicontinuous)

Psalter: Psalm 105:1-11, 45b

Old Testament: Genesis 29:31—30:24

Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42

Scripture (complementary)

Psalter: Psalm 119:129-136

Old Testament: 1 Kings 2:1-4

Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42

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Prayer

Redeeming Sustainer, visit your people and pour out your strength and courage upon us, that we may hurry to make you welcome not only in our concern for others, but by serving them generously and faithfully in your name. Amen.

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Reflection

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth. The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and indeed something greater than Jonah is here! The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and indeed something greater than Solomon is here! (Matthew 12:38-42).

It is a waste of time to argue with some people. They know what they know and they know nothing that you can say can convince them. Let’s also admit there are times when it is a waste of time for others to argue with us.

Most human beings like to think that they’re open-minded and willing to consider perspectives and evidence that counter what they already believe. There are times when that is the case, but we can also have moments where even if God himself open the heavens and told us we were wrong, we would still find a way to keep believing what we’re sure must be true.

Some of the religious leaders have that same perspective toward Jesus. They have seen him do miracles. They have listened to his teaching. They have watched the crowds follow him because he teaches with authority. But, there is nothing that Jesus can say or do that will change their minds about him. They are certain he cannot be God’s anointed. And so when the religious leaders ask Jesus for a sign, it is just one more attempt to discredit them.

Jesus will not entertain their charade, but he does give a sign that sounds more like a clue to solving a mystery than anything else. The sign of the prophet Jonah, who was in the belly of the fish for three days. It is a reference to Jesus’ resurrection. At that moment, the religious leaders have no concept of what Jesus is referring to, but the clue that Jesus gives will be revealed in due time. Unfortunately, not even an empty tomb and an alive Jesus will convince them otherwise.

People have asked me over the years how there could be individuals in Jesus’s day who did not believe in him after seeing the miracles that he performed? We like to think of the miraculous as incontrovertible proof that something is true. But when human beings get entrenched in their ways, even the most direct evidence at times is unconvincing. As I said, we know what we know and not even the facts can convince us otherwise

The German pastor and theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer had a word for those who could not be persuaded to reject their folly. The term was “stupid” or “foolish.” In his context, he was referring to those who had embraced Nazi ideology and could not be persuaded to abandon it. Bonhoeffer writes,

“Against stupidity we have no defense. Neither protests nor force can touch it. Reasoning is of no use. Facts that contradict personal prejudices can simply be disbelieved — indeed, the fool can counter by criticizing them, and if they are undeniable, they can just be pushed aside as trivial exceptions. So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self-satisfied. In fact, they can easily become dangerous, as it does not take much to make them aggressive. For that reason, greater caution is called for than with a malicious one. Never again will we try to persuade the stupid person with reasons, for it is senseless and dangerous.”

Dietrich was not referring here to unintelligent people. In fact, some of the people he had in mind were his teachers who were intelligent and well educated. But because they had bought into Nazi ideology, they had gone down a path of embracing the ridiculous. Bonhoeffer says that time is too precious to waste convincing them otherwise. They know what they know and nothing will change their perspective.

In a sense that’s the approach Jesus takes to the religious leaders. There is nothing he can say or do that will change their mind about him and so he simply is not going to waste his time trying to convince them. He will spend time with those who are open and with persons who are seeking to know whether or not Jesus is the one God has sent. Jesus is glad to engage skeptics. Jesus is happy to converse with those who struggle to believe; but just like Bonhoeffer, he will not waste his time with the close-minded and those who are sure they already have it figured out.

Jesus wants seekers. As he says in the Sermon on the Mount… those who seek will find.

PRAYER: Loving God, open our ears to hear your word and draw us closer to you, that the whole world may be one with you as you are one with us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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