Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

August 9, 2020

Night Passage

Matthew 14:22-33 - NRSV

Jesus Walks on the Water

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, 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,[a] 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,[b] 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.”

Footnotes:

Matthew 14:24 Other ancient authorities read was out on the sea

Matthew 14:30 Other ancient authorities read the wind

Note: Scroll down for Sermon after Poem

A Poem a Sunday

Pentecost 10 - A

Night Passage

Hear the drumbeat of the waves

echoing through the mountain caves

as the mystic poet prays

upon the precipice

near the edge that overlooks

the vast sea winding through the nooks

and crannies of the dark.

A small boat embarks.

Dear motley crew of fishermen

brave the sea at night again.

Haunted, lost seeking a Savior

through fog and mist – divine behavior.

Fear grips the crew as they now spy

a ghostly figure in twilight’s sky.

Unhinged in awe they stare in wonder

through lightning flash and mountain thunder.

Cheerful, they recognize the Master.

Now they can avoid disaster.

Amidst the dark, the threatening waves,

the Rabbi speaks and now will save.

Rear in the skiff below the sail

Peter speaks and will prevail

to walk the waters, dare the deep.

Is this a vision?  Are they asleep?

Near the dear crew a voice is heard:

“Be not afraid.  It is I, the Word.”

Peter steps into the dank sea.

Fear sinks him, a body falling free.

Clear in sight he sees the Master

and is saved from this disaster.

“O little of faith, why do you doubt?”

The divine promise bails him out.

Dear followers the wind will cease.

Embark in faith with God’s peace

for the Spirit leads over rough seas.

Baptized anew we’re free to be.

Copyright 2017 @ A Poem a Sunday

May be used with permission

kennstorck@gmail.com

And here is the Sermon

Mantras for Mission:

“Take Heart, It Is I, Don’t Be Afraid”

St. Matthew 14:27

A mountain, sea, wind, boat, darkness, storm, silence…– elements of a mysterious short story which Matthew tells today.  Notice that Jesus makes the disciples go in a boat and cross the sea ahead of him:

Jesus goes up to the mountain, by himself to pray.  In Scripture and the ancient world – mountains were a mysterious place for divine revelation.   Mt. Sinai where God gave the 10 Commandments was shrouded with a cloud of unknowing. 

Darkness enshrouds the boat – and the wind and waves batter the boat with a resounding slap.  In ancient times the sea was considered a source of chaos and a place to be feared full of monsters and unknown powers.  In the dark one did not know just who are what might be ahead.

Storms on the Sea of Galilee were nothing to play with even a calm wind could be a prelude to a storm.

This is a mystical tale of Jesus who comes down from the Mountain and reveals a message from the living God by hovering over the waters of chaos and inviting the disciples and the church to take courage and enter the unknown seas ahead.

This story can be a source for strengthening our faith and opening us up to walk to Jesus on the water.

I hear three mantra’s that we can use to acknowledge God’s presence in the midst of our own seas of darkness and storms of life:

Take heart

It is I

Do not be afraid

What is a 'mantra' and why would we want to have one?   A mantra is short series of words or sounds repeated to aid concentration in meditation.  Am I suggesting that each one of us become a monk or nun – a contemplative person?  Yes, I am inviting you in the weeks ahead to try out any one of these mantras while silently meditating. 

Let’s explore what Jesus is up to in walking on the water and how it has practical implications for our everyday lives as we follow the Christ.

This story is dripping with metaphors of the spiritual life.  We spoke of the mountain as a place for a revelation or divine epiphany.  We spoke of the sea as just the opposite – a place of darkness, chaos, and death.  The boat has become a symbol of the church and many Scandinavian church building were constructed in the form of a boat.

Matthew is telling us a story of how the church can navigate the waters of life by looking to the Christ who walks on and opens a way for us through the deep waters and darkness.

Mantra’s for mission:

Take heart.  What does Jesus mean when he says, ‘Take heart’?

Be of good courage is another way of translating the original Greek.  But ‘take heart’ is much more poetic and speaks to the core of our being.  Jesus, having just come down from the divine place of inspiration greets the disciple in the midst of the dark sea – a place of danger and chaos with the word of encouragement.

Take heart – an example is when we see something good happen and we take heart.  In Australia dozens of people helped rescue a fellow commuter in by pushing against a train car to free the man whose leg slipped between the platform and the train. They had a heart for helping!  Incidents like this which moves our hearts to courage is what it means to take heart.

Use ‘Take heart’ as your mantra this week.  Sit in silence for at least 5 minutes or longer in a comfortable posture and repeat ‘Take heart’ as you breathe in and out.  Than sit in silence resting in God.

Jesus encourages us to take heart because God is ever present – even on the sea – even in the darkest hour – God promises never to forsake us.

“It is I!”  Jesus assures the disciples that he is no ghost or phantom.  He uses an expression known to the early church in its Jewish roots.  “It is I or another translation “I AM!” is a reference to the I AM God. 

‘I AM’ is the name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush.  “I AM” is the Emmanuel – ‘God with us” that Matthew calls Jesus at the beginning of his gospel. 

“It is I!” is more than a reassurance that it is Jesus.  It is a reference to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – the God who created all things good – the God who liberated his people from slavery and brought them through the chaotic waters of the Red Sea.

“It is I!” conjures up all this images and stories of God rescue, compassion, and liberation of God’s people. 

In the weeks and months ahead – sit in contemplation and use the mantra – “It is I!” as the voice of reassurance from God who liberates us and calls us through the waters of our baptisms into a new live in Jesus.

“Do Not Be Afraid.”  Fear can paralyze us.  Fear can force us into our on little safe cocoon where we take no risks and never venture out.  Fear limits our vision and confines us.  Fear would have us stay with the crowd that abandoned Jesus, or with the other disciples who remained in the boat.

Now ‘the church’ the boat is meant to be a sanctuary – a place of safety.  But that is not it only function.  No – the church – God’s people gather to be sent out of the boat doing the dangerous work of compassion by entering the sea and walking with Jesus on the water.

Faith that merely runs for safety to the nearest sanctuary, but never steps out of the boat is indeed an incomplete faith.  Faith that never takes a risk is a faith that has not matured.

Jesus calls us as individuals and as a church to dare to take risks – walk out of the boat – think out of the box – use your gifts God has given and come out and walk on the water of a chaotic world with Jesus.

Love – the compassion of Christ casts out fear.  Then as individuals and as a church we can dare to walk on the water – try new ways of being church – explore ways to renew our faith community.  Change and the waters can be fearful – but God invites the church to leave the boat and serve.  Churches dare not be mere sanctuaries, but mission stations – equipping people for service.

Fear is a major stumbling block for church growth.  Fear of change, fear of uncertainty, fear of stuff being moved around and changed – these and other fears can drag a faith community down.

“Do not be afraid!” is the assurance that in Christ we can take risks.  Peter did and Christ was there as a mutual partner – lifting him up.  We go back to the boat each Sunday to be renewed in our faith – the worship is intended to send us out.  Look at the outline of our the liturgy:  Gathering, Word, Meal, Sending.  The reason for our worship is missional – to be formed into a servant church.

“Do not be afraid” is the third mantra.  Use only one of these three mantra’s in you silent meditation time.  Repeat and sit in silence for at least 5 minutes – if possible 20 minutes.  Repeating these words and entering into meditation.

As we do so, Christ will be in us and we will be in Christ and the mission of the church will go forward over the waters of life.

Amen