This Worship Service was taped at St. Matthews Church in Welland.
Bulletin: Worship Guide
Prayer of the Day
O God our defender, storms rage around and within us and cause us to be
afraid. Rescue your people from despair, deliver your sons and daughters from
fear, and preserve us in the faith of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.
Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33
22 [Jesus] made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side
[of the Sea of Galilee,] while he dismissed the crowds.23 And after he had
dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When
evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the
waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25 And early in
the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the
disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a
ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and
said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on
the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on
the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he
became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of
little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind
ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son
of God.”
Sermon:
Here’s a question to think on and don’t worry you won’t be asked to turn to a
neighbour and share….
What life lesson has shaped you the most?
The Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque has asked this question over years of retreats at
places like the Chautauqua Institute in New York. She discovered that in fewer
than 5 percent of responses, the formative lesson was learned in easy or
“good” times. Life Lessons nearly always come with a diploma from the school
of Hard Knocks—or as a pastor of friend of mine calls it “The ol’ two by four
shampoo”.Lessons learned happen in those “fourth watch” times—times like a slave
people make their daring “Passover escape” from Pharaoh’s Egypt. Times like
predawn on the third day when the stone sealing Jesus’ grave was rolled aside.
For Jesus’ followers the life lesson happens in a boat—scholars point to key
words Matthew uses to tell the story—the waves “torment” them— a word
often used to describe tyrants tormenting subjugated people. The disciples
give every once of physical strength, every shred of knowledge of the sea and
every ounce of nerve they have. And the chaos wins. The disciples are
defeated and in despair.
Then Jesus appears walking on the spine of the chaos monster—the sea,
Matthew calls it, which brings to memory stories of Mot, Tiamot, Neptune; all
beings that control the sea and mean harm to people.
Recall the Genesis story where God steps into chaos and harnesses it into
creation, harmony and order; and then calls it Good, very Good. Jesus does
what God does and announces himself in language God uses with Moses, “I
AM”…Don’t let fear be the last word.
Peter’s response is part of the lesson maybe. Let’s just say his reaction is a mix
of both faith and not faith…or as Richard Rohr likes to say, the opposite of faith
isn’t doubt…it’s control. Peter risks a lot by jumping ship. He fabricates a
proposition to test the teacher. For a second it looks like its working. Then
Peter, the Rock, sinks…managing to gurgle out a “Lord save me” before he goes
under. Jesus hauls him up and lands him gasping like a stunned mullet back
into the boat.
Bear in mind that Matthew presents Peter as a stand-in for the disciples and
the church….Peter says what the rest of us are thinking and does what the rest
of us hesitate doing. So, church, what’s the lesson?
Hint here are two things the lesson is NOT. 1. Try harder. 2. Just keep your eye
on Jesus. I doubt anybody would to all that trouble for such banal lessons.
There were two times I got in trouble with ICU nurses during my chaplaincy.
My “caffeine saves button” from my rabbi friend offended someone so the
spiritual care department instituted their “no flair” policy. I still have that
button and it has pride of place on my swag bag…briefcase. The other time I
got in trouble was when a nurse opined that God never gives us more than wecan handle. I said I wondered if that were true. Her reaction might have
permanently blown my hair back.
To my relief, our bishop Carla Blakley reminds us that saying isn’t really in
the Bible and the quote it’s based on is out of context anyway. Besides what if
it were true? When you finally hit the wall is that your fault? God’s fault?
The disciples get a near fatal dose of more than they can handle.
And it’s here that Jesus shows up doing God—things.
Jesus gets a fatal dose of more than he can handle. On the Third Day, God does
God-things. That’s the Good News-Gospel grounds for our praying the Prayer
Jesus taught us. We echo those desperate words from the sea soaked Simon
Peter,
“Deliver us from evil”.
amen.
