August
10, 2008
Doug Clay
Proper 14A - RCL
To
read the lessons for the day click here:
http://www.io.com/~kellywp/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp14_RCL.html
Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus
made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while
he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the
mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this
time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was
against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.
But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying,
"It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus
spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."
Peter
answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the
water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started
walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong
wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord,
save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to
him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the
boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly
you are the Son of God."
Today we have
heard two very compelling stories of turbulent times. As I was reading them in
preparation for this sermon the old song “Stormy Weather” came to mind and this
quickly became the theme that I saw running through these stories. The reading
from Genesis is a tale of family relationships, and is part of the story of the
family of Jacob. Last week we heard how Jacob brought his family back to his
childhood homeland, wrestled with God’s messenger and was given the new name of
Joseph was
seventeen years old and I can imagine, as a favorite son, at times wore a
teenage insufferable attitude. While helping his brothers care for the family
flocks, he reported them to their father. It is not stated but I can imagine
that perhaps this bad report was a result of deliberate spying or may have been
for the purpose of increasing his favorable position with his father. The
family relationship now includes the storm of spying and tattling with maybe no-one
able to claim to be a completely innocent victim. The drama does not stop here
-the brothers knew that Joseph was the favorite and they hated him and could
not speak peaceably to him (the family relationship includes hatred and
jealousy.)
As is true of
every dramatic story, there comes a time of opportunity. Joseph was send away
from his father to find where the brothers were grazing the sheep, with the
purpose of bringing back a report (maybe another opportunity to talk badly
about his older siblings?). The stormy relationship escalated with conspiracy,
violence, deceit, excuses, robbery, and imprisonment as the brothers sought to
rid themselves of their despised sibling. The brothers saw an opportunity to
rid themselves of their unbearable sibling. As they saw him approach the
decided together to kill him, throw his body down an abandoned well, and make
up a story so their father wouldn’t suspect them. They did capture Joseph, stripped him of his
precious coat and imprisoned him in a well while they sat down to eat and
decide just how to eliminate their younger brother and his intolerable
attitude. They were just on the verge of killing when another opportunity
presented itself and storm of greed made them decide instead to sell their
brother into slavery. The story sets us up with this vivid description of the
dysfunctional family – as we are left with the statement – “and the
Ishmaelities took Joseph to
Our
second compelling story comes from the gospel of Matthew, and is part of a
larger story that we have been reading for the past several weeks. By looking
at the entire story, we can better understand what is happening in this
passage. The story started with Jesus teaching in his home town of
So Jesus and his disciples left his home town and went from village to village teaching with more success. Jesus empowered those following and sent them out in pairs to teach and preach and heal. They, I am sure, must have been reluctant and unsure of themselves. They had witnessed much of what Jesus had done, they had learned much of what Jesus had taught about God, but to go out and actually do it on their own must have been a scary proposition. I think each of us have been in that position – I know I have – where we almost have to be pushed to do something new like a mother bird pushes her fledglings out of the nest to learn to fly.
But they had done it!! The twelve disciples had been divided into pairs; they went out and preached in all the communities of the region. And the story reports their success. “They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” How excited they must have been when they returned. They had been able to do it!!
When they returned they all gathered around Jesus to report everything. Just imagine, they had experienced something entirely new and liberating and they were bubbling over with excitement. They wanted to share it and understand it and incorporate these events into their personal view of life. But the people of the villages had followed them back. So many, we are told, were coming and going that they did not even get a chance to eat.
This shows the other side of the journeys – six pairs of disciples had trusted and believed that they could make God’s miracles real. The willingness to trust and believe in the possibilities had become contagious. The newly empowered miracle workers had just spread over the country side, entered the villages, and performed miracles and healings. The entire region must have been buzzing with the news. People followed them back to experience more and to understand more about what had happened in their villages. But it was too much; the disciples were running out of energy so Jesus suggested they go to quiet place to rest. The moved across the lake but the crowds found them, and the numbers grew. There were five thousand men plus women and children spread around the lakeside when they landed. Just imagine the situation – the disciples had just completed their first solo travels, performed their first miracles, and come back. They were exhausted from the trip – then they were unable to discuss and comprehend what had just happened – they were tired and hungry (probably more than just a little bit cranky) and now were being surrounded by immense crowds who wanted more. All they wanted was to have some quiet time with their teacher and leader.
Imagine their feelings when Jesus, as usual, decided to stop and spend the day teaching the crowds. More delays – this had been going on all day. And by this time not only were the disciples hungry but the crowds of people were hungry. Then one of the disciples suggested that the people be sent away to find something to eat. (It certainly seemed to be a reasonable solution to the entire messy situation.) Instead, Jesus said “you give them something to eat.” Once again – the disciples were being pushed to act, to do something, even though the need appeared too great and the resources too small to accomplish anything. And the five thousand – plus were all fed.
But now it was even later, the
disciples must have been even more tired although no longer hungry and Jesus
gives them one more task to perform. The story reads “immediately after the
feeding of the five thousand, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go
on ahead to the other side, to
What more could happen? How much
more could they face in one day? These tired, confused disciples in the boat
made it exactly halfway across the
The boat is often used as a symbol for the church…and I think the boat in which the disciples find themselves, in many ways is representative of where this particular part of the church finds itself. Our lives, individually and as a church family have times of frustration, anger, terror, pain, and suffering. We at times are also confused as to which direction we should be rowing and would just like a little calm to have time to understand what is happening in our world. Just as the disciples in that boat, in the middle of that sea, in the middle of the night, in the middle of the storm had to work together to keep from capsizing, we all need to use our individual strengths and gifts to reach the shore.
The disciples didn’t recognize the miracles as they experienced them. They were in trouble, without direction and struggling. They were sure Jesus was somewhere else—of praying and they expected to be left alone in that boat. So they were surprised, and amazed and utterly astounded when Jesus came to them in a seemingly impossible way.
Do we recognize the miracles happening in our midst, or have we like the residents of Jesus’ home town, become so familiar that all the history, all the details and all the hardships keep us from believing? We are often like Peter – walking toward Jesus – then noticing the strong wind and stormy seas. We too can become frightened and begin to sink.
Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus then realizing where he was and what he was doing – began to sink.
Once again in the stormy weather and fatigue of stressful situations, the disciples were frightened and confused.
What about us? The answer was given to me yesterday, as Mark and I were having breakfast with Rod Davis and discussing, the church, government and our upcoming wedding ceremony. Rod said something like this, “the church is messy – but what can be expected from an organization that was established for tax collectors, lepers, the blind and the lame?” God’s ministry is not reserved for the perfect – it is not through our strength but it is by persisting faithfully through and with our own weaknesses and imperfections that God’s will is manifested. Jesus never promised smooth sailing. What Jesus said to those first disciples but also says to us today – GO ON AHEAD TO THE OTHER SIDE. Not just “go on ahead” but actually TO THE OTHER SIDE. No one knows what wind or tempest will be encountered during the journey, but we are promised the presence of God who will never abandon his people.
Jacob, Joseph and all his brothers, the disciples including Peter, you and me – we all at times focus on the storm about us and begin to sink.
But remember - Jesus reached out his hand and caught Peter…
Jesus reaches out his hand to catch us….
Amen