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July 02, 2006

Fred Heard - June 25, 2006

June 25, 2006 Sermon - Father Fred Heard
Mark 4:35-41

It is summer and countless people will be out fishing and spending time around the water all over this beautiful state and all over this special place in the world we call the west.

Even though it is summer, these beautiful days can quickly turn from beautiful to treacherous. Temperatures change, black clouds appear, the wind picks up, and the rain can come. It is time to drop the fishing poles and head home…but delay can close paths of escape and the whole situation can become life threatening. For the inexperienced, this can be an exciting adventure—very much like a snow storm in the winter. But we can learn that wind and water or snow, are powerful allies. This whole outing can turn into an adventure filled with terror. Ultimately, most people will survive and those terror filled moments will fade into memories. The Lord has brought us through a storm and we are safe. God’s care can be a lesson about life. I told you sometime ago, that I am not a fisherman and perhaps this is not on your list of things to do either and so let’s just forget about this whole fishing thing and the storm and all.

But you know what? Even on this beautiful California summer day, many of us are encountering storms. They take different forms—emotional, physical, spiritual, economic, relationships. Look at scripture and note that: Jesus calms our storms. We can recognize our human frailty in the midst of a storm and when we pray that the storm be calmed, we can see his loving concern.

In today’s Gospel, when the lake was calm, the disciples felt safe in the boat. They noticed however, as the storm took form, the boat offered them little security. Jesus was with a crowd. He spent time with those who needed to be healed and with those who needed to hear of his kingdom. Jesus was their safe boat and he offered them refuge. He often spoke in parables to help them gain insight. Jesus’ kingdom is one of grace. He gives his love to the world that we might believe in him and be saved.

Jesus is in his Galilean ministry. He has picked his disciples. He is now teaching them spiritual truths. I was a teacher for a lot of years and sometimes my students missed the point and this was true of Jesus’ disciples. Sometimes learning comes from practical experience and that is the purpose of today’s Gospel. The disciples were looking to Jesus to save them and in doing this, they were showing some faith and hope in him…while, at the same time, they were demonstrating the “littleness” of their faith. On another occasion, the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. The Lord replied, “If you had the faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” Once a man asked Jesus to heal his son, “If you can…” Jesus replied, “If you are able!” It is easy to identify with the problem of having a little faith but needing more faith than we have.

It took three words to calm the storm, “Peace! Be still!” This is a demonstration of his power. Some have said they have a problem with the idea that someone could calm the storm. This isn’t “someone” we are talking about…it is Jesus Christ. Jesus did demonstrate his power on many occasions and most certainly when he rose from the dead. We hear many people in our time say they have supernatural powers, but the next time you hear that, ask them how many times they have told a storm to hush and have the storm actually obey their command?

Many of these disciples were fishermen and they had encountered rough seas on numerous occasions. Even the veteran sailors lost control of the ship. When they cried out however, Jesus heard them and he responded even though he taught them a lesson at the same time. You see Jesus hears people who call out for help in the middle of the storms of their lives…and the question, I guess, is do we—do you—hear people who call out for help in the middle of the storms of their lives? Or even more importantly, as the storms form in our lives who is there to offer us security and to lend a helping hand? N. Graham Standish writes in Discovering the Narrow Path, a Guide to Spiritual Balance, “…the mystical life is not a life spent only in prayer and seeking. It is a life of service. The mystics all were grounded in love, and their love needed to be expressed in their service. Mother Teresa served the poor in Calcutta. George Muller served orphans in England. Francis of Assisi served the poor in Italy and around the Mediterranean. Brother Lawrence humbly served others in his community by working in the kitchen. Frank Laubach served by teaching reading to the poor in the Philippines. The particular service is not as important as the actual act of serving.

Thomas a Kempis has said, “Without love good works are worthless, but with love they become wholly rewarding no matter how small and insignificant they may seem. Jesus did care for the disciples. He still cares for each of us in our stormy lives. What storms are out there in your world? There are storms that strike suddenly, without warning—hurricanes, fires, earthquakes which as we learned with Katrina bring destruction to property and death, to friends and relatives. There are the storms of failing health and old age which frustrate the mind and reduce the effectiveness of the body. There are storms in our households which threaten families—unrest between children, disagreements between husbands and wives, unpaid bills and unproductive jobs. There are storms which threaten our faith— when we grow tired of living and think about ending our life, when God seems distant and uninterested in our welfare. Jesus cares. But do we as the Christian community?

It is easy to care about the victims of Katrina or the victims of a tsunami—these are the disasters of headlines. But what about the old lady who needs a ride to church? What about the person who needs a ride to the doctor’s office? What about the brother or sister who needs to go to a grocery store? What about the person who is confined to home who just needs a visit? What about the person who signs up for “meals on wheels” simply because that means someone will deliver the meal and they will have company once a day? Do we dismiss these Brothers and Sisters because they are simply “too needy?” Do we even know they exist? Do we care? Some months ago, I was preaching and I think the topic was stewardship and a younger person whispered to his mother that I was getting ready to ask for money and I never did and boy was he surprised. Well today, you might think I am going to ask for your time and you are right.

You know a study was announced this week which showed that the word “time” is the most used noun in our vocabulary. “We don’t have time to do this”…There isn’t enough time…I ran out of time”…”You must get this done on time”…”Time is running out”…time…time…time.

My dear Brothers and Sisters, time is running out. The examples I have just given are real—they are not imagined and they are real within our community at Holy Trinity. We build buildings. We go on mission trips. We sing songs. We plan Sunday School Curriculum. We plan the future for our Memorial Garden. We eat. We play. We learn. We preach. We also hurt. We are needy. We need boats to save us from the storms in our lives. This week, I have gone to the cupboard looking for volunteers to meet needs within our community here in Menlo Park and it is bare. Soon and very soon, we are going to have to decline requests for rides to church or the doctor or the grocery store. Jesus answered the disciple’s frantic prayer with a definite, decisive command, “Peace! Be still.” Jesus’ commands were followed by a great calm. Then he asks the soul searching questions, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?"

Those who call on us for help should not feel the pain we are feeling as we attempt to meet their needs. If they believe they are a burden, we will never hear from them again and that is why it is so easy to abuse and mistreat this part of society’s community…because ignored, they will simply retreat and that is what insincere politicians have discovered. Unlike younger people there will be no protests and the end will come and we can just put it out of our minds. Please accept these words as your call to ministry. Ask yourselves if you as God’s people have faith to completely trust him as he presents his power and divine will to you in your lives. It is not good enough to mouth the words of compassion—Jesus calls you to believe with total trust. Jesus calls for passion when working with his community. When the storms of life approach you or your neighbor, turn to Jesus Christ. Rely on him always…and always remember as you pick up your brothers and sisters, He is there to help you carry the burden. I am reminded of that old theme from Father Flannigan’s Boys Town as one boy is carrying the lame boy he says, “He ain’t heavy Father, he’s my brother.” AMEN