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22 June, Pentecost 2

I Samuel 17:32-49 This familiar story of the triumph of the victory of the godly underdog over the pagan bully needs little to be added. "The whole account is intended to demonstrate that the uncircumcised Philistines, indeed 'all the world', are to see that Israel has a God whose name alone is sufficient to strike the strongest man to the ground. David's remark that this God needs neither sword nor spear to aid him, and that he uses what is weak to put the strong to shame reveals a basic law of the kingdom of God."(H W Herztberg)

Psalm 9:9-20 Psalms 9 and 10 were originally one. The lectionary today gives us a short passage extracted from the whole. It affirms with thanksgiving God's justice in defeating and destroying the nations' enemies. "The Psalmist has watched the great conflict between good and evil being waged in two fields: in the world, between Israel and the heathen nations; in the nation of Israel between the godless oppressors of the weak and their innocent victims. He has seen the sovereignty of God decisively vindicated in the world by the defeat of Israel's enemies: but when he surveys the conflict within the nation, wrong seems to be triumphant. So he prays for an equally significant demonstration of God's sovereignty within the nation by a signal punishment of the wicked who deny his power or will to interpose." (Kirkpatrick)

2 Corinthians 6:1-13 Paul's relationship with the Christian Church in Corinth was complex and often strained. This letter, which may in fact comprise up to four letters, reflects the tensions that Paul was dealing with. His ministry and his apostleship were called in question, and one of the recurring themes here is the attempt to vindicate himself as a true apostle of Jesus Christ. His motive is not self-exaltation, but to make his passionate appeal: You have received the grace of God; do not let it come to nothing. (verse 1)

Mark 4:35-41 A familiar dramatic story. Told in Matthew and Luke, as well as Mark, it has about it the freshness of an eye-witness's account. Perhaps here John Mark is reporting what had been told him by Peter. Some other boats were with him (v 36) is the kind of irrelevant detail that an eyewitness might include. We are not told how these other boats fared in the storm. The disciples address Jesus as Teacher, their standard title for him prior to his resurrection. Thereafter he was Lord. The word Teacher is equivalent to the Hebrew Rabbi. To use the word Master is misleading. It is important when reading this story not to stop at the stilling of the storm. The significance of the story is in verse 41: the fact that the disciples were awe-struck, and the searching question. Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him? Who indeed? The world has gone on asking that question ever since.

The preaching - Who is This?

A sermon on Mark's story of the storm might begin by asking people what they think the meaning of this story is. Some might even tell you. Most listeners will have heard if often from childhood days on. They know what happened. Invite them to consider why Mark (and later Matthew and Luke) included it in their records. Why was it remembered by the early church and written down and preserved?

Any or all of the following might be considered:

1. Jesus' rebuke of the storm demonstrated in an unanswerable way the supernatural power that Jesus possessed. Such a "nature miracle" causes great difficulties for people of our day. Does God interfere with the systems of nature? If not, is there any point in praying that natural disasters will be averted? Did this storm by a fortunate co-incidence happen to ease at the time of Jesus' words? Galilee's storms were well known for the suddenness with which they began and ended. Does the exercising of miraculous power produce faith in those who witness them or who hear about them? If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will pay no heed even if someone should rise from the dead (Luke 16:31). Indeed, Mark does not tell us that the stilling of the storm produced faith in the disciples; after the storm Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith even now. They were awe-struck (verse 41).

2. Some see this story as an allegory: for Christian people as for all the world's people, life is beset with storms. "We have got further than the fishermen of Galilee in tracing out the laws of nature and exploiting them to our advantage. But we still have not mastered the world, and never shall. The science that has brought new blessings has brought also new dark and unspeakable dangers. And we Christians are exposed to the dangers as much as any - often more than any. But when the storms break, what we need first and foremost is not more courage and stronger nerves, not a better understanding of the world's ways, not the ability to withdraw into our own shells and let the rest go hang. What we need is the simple certainty that even in riskiest of situations, in the worst imaginable catastrophes, in the loneliest of struggles, the Lord is still in control. We need Paul's conviction that nothing in the whole created universe can ever separate us from him. That faith, and it alone can take the sting out of even the sorest trials and enable us to weather every storm." - J W Leitch

The Church has always been storm-tossed. One of the familiar symbols of the Christian Church has long been a small vessel riding the waves. You might picture some of the storms that the church in our own day is having to ride out - consult the week's newspapers for examples! Is this story told to assure us that Christ will over-rule the storms that buffet his church and bring it safely through?

3. The real question thrown at us by this story comes from the disciples' reaction: They were awe-struck, and said to one another, "Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him." The story does not end with the disciples assured and happy to have been rescued from the storm. Their faith does not appear to have been strengthened by their experience on the lake. They were possessed by an awe-filled fear of this one whom they called their teacher. The calmer of the storm was somebody more than they had thought. A new truth was dawning on them, and they did not find it comfortable.

Who is this? It is a question that does not go away. The world is forever being confronted with it. The final answer is beyond us.

Perhaps in this story we have a foreshadowing of Holy Week: a different kind of storm was crashing around them and they were terrified. This time, when their Teacher slept, it was the sleep of death. "And again Christ rose to take control, to rescue them as before, and reproach them again for their lack of faith." (Leitch). Good Friday and Easter also confront us with this question: Who is he: who is he for me?

A Gathering Prayer

God eternal,
We come to this place of worship,
Yet we know that all the world is yours:
There is no place where you are not.

We come at this specail time of worship
Yet we know
That the whole of time and eternity
A are yours,
And your love and mercy
Have no beginning, and no end.

We come with our words,
With our thoughts, with our songs
To honour you,
Yet we know that no words,
No music of ours
Can mirror your glory
Or give full voice to your worship.
God eternal, here we are before you:
At this time and in this place,
With these words of ours,
With the music we make,
And the thoughts within us:
With it all may we honour you,
And bring glory to you
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Intercessions

If these present days are for us filled with peace and joy,
with satisfaction and delight and eager hope,
with contentment and laughter,
Then we thenk you our God.

And here before you we remember that there are people
battered by life's storms: people who have little peace,
for whom joy rarely lights up life,
people who long ago gave up hoping...

We remember that there are people who today are stunned
by the death of someone dear,
people shattered by the breaking of a relationship
that once was precious,
experiences that test their faith, numb their minds,
chill their hearts, destroy the hope that was in them,
and in distress they do not know where to turn,
or who turn to...

We remember that there are people giving themselves
to care for others who are sick.
People who try to help the distressed,
people who sit with the sying,
people who try to bring reassurance and strength and hope
to others who are bereaved...

Whether they do such things as the work of their profession
Or for the love of a dear one, of a neighbour, of a friend,
We pray that as they care for your people Lord God,
they will know that you are near,
and be blessed with your peace.

Eternal god, with you are all the deep mysteries of our living;
In you are healinga nd peace.
If there are times and places
Where your grace can be known through our words, or our lives,
then in us, and by us and through us,
May your kingdom come
And your will be done. Amen.

 

Pentecost  | Pentecost 1 | Pentecost 2 | Pentecost 3  | Pentecost 4 | Pentecost 5  | Pentecost 6