Proper 7, Year A
June 19, 2005
Christ Church, Covington

“O God, you have enticed me, and I was enticed; you have overpowered me, and you have prevailed” (Jer. 20:7).

Here’s a dialogue from one of Giovanni Guareshi’s humorous stories about the fictional priest, Don Camillo, set in Italy after the Second World War. Don Camillo is a conservative and opinionated priest in a village largely populated by members of the Communist Party. Don Camillo speaks his mind freely, and it gets him into trouble; Don Camillo also doesn’t mind telling God off. So one day the priest, who has been preaching about politics and specific personalities, is hit by one of his offended leftist parishioners with a stick. Don Camillo goes to the Church to ask Jesus (who lives on the cross behind the altar) what he should do:

“Anoint your back with a little oil beaten up in water and hold your tongue,” Christ answered from the main altar. “We must forgive those who offend us.”

“Very true, Lord, but here we are discussing blows, not offenses.”

“And what do you mean by that? Surely, Don Camillo, you don’t mean that the injuries done to the body are any more painful than those to the soul?... And didn’t I forgive those who nailed me to the Cross?”

“There’s no use arguing with you!” Don Camillo exclaimed. “You are always right. May your will be done. I will forgive, but don’t forget that if these ruffians, encouraged by my silence, crack my skull open, it will be your responsibility. I could quote you several passages from the Old Testament…”

“Don Camillo, do you propose to teach me the Old Testament! As for this business, I assume full responsibility. And just between ourselves, that little beating this evening did you some good.” (Giovanni Guareschi, The Little World of Don Camillo).

You can tell that Don Camillo doesn’t mind speaking plainly to God. Their dialogue is frank and, of course, funny. The humor lies in the fact that Don Camillo ought to be more respectful and discrete, at the very least in speaking with God.

Place alongside this dialogue the words of the prophet Jeremiah, in the angry and exasperated confession found in our first reading. Jeremiah, reluctant and ill-suited to his ministry, has been called to preach repentance and then disaster to the Kingdom of Judah. “Defeat is coming! You’re getting what you deserve!” The result for him has been ill-treatment and life-threatening struggle. Jeremiah’s response has been frank speech without an ounce of humor; speech directed by the prophet toward God. Jeremiah uses the familiar form of address, with no deference and no respect. The anger lies in the outraged victim of seduction and coercion; the prophet has been messed with and he’s mad. The language has been prettied-up for the translation, but the meaning is clear. All emotional reserves have been worn away by feelings of irritation and helplessness. Thus the confession, the frank and even blasphemous speech toward God, who is ultimately responsible for calling Jeremiah to this thankless task.

The take-away here is very simple today. There’s really nothing that we can say to God that is going to end our relationship with him. Straightforward speech won’t do it. Impatience, exasperation, and even anger won’t make a dent. If prayer is conversation with God, most of us are in far greater danger of not telling him enough about what’s going on with us than we ever are from being indiscrete. The risk of blasphemy is probably better than stony silence when it comes to conversation with God. So start talking.

Don’t think I am recommending a casual approach to God. All of our speech needs to be marked by respectfulness and care. But certainly God knows when we are angry, impatient, exasperated, or what have you. It goes without saying, of course, that God knows what we really want, as well. Doesn’t our Gospel say “nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known” (Matt. 10:26)? God knows who we are, so there’s no use pretending. And if there are parts of us that need to change, like our anger or impatience, then acknowledging them and letting God know they’re present is probably the first step to transformation.

If we’re trying to end our relationship with God, there’s nothing we can say that will turn him away. Neither silence or pretence in our conversation can do that. A much better strategy is to stop listening, which is the other side of the conversational coin. I suspect that even this is not decisive in our relation with God. But that’s a subject for another sermon.

The Rev’d John Bauerschmidt is Rector of Christ Church, Covington.

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