the 4th sunday after pentecost
the PRAYER …
O God of creation, eternal majesty, you preside over land and sea, sunshine and storm. By your strength pilot us, by your power preserve us, by your wisdom instruct us, and by your hand protect us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
the READING …
A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But [Jesus] was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” mark 4:35-41
the DEVOTION …
Faith here in the United States – at least, the popular kind – isn’t so much believing-in as it is believing-that. We believe-that the bible’s incapable of being wrong. We believe-that the bible’s unable to make mistakes. We believe-that the world was created in six days. We believe-that a virgin conceived and bore a child. We believe-that miracles happened just as they’re described. Word-for-word. Letter-for-letter. We believe-that god did, that god does, that god will. What was it that Dr. Peal told us … “Expect a miracle! Make miracles happen!” So, when we hear Jesus ask the disciples, “Have you still no faith,” we assume it’s “that” they don’t, yet, believe he can do it! Calm the wind, that is! Still the sea!
But that wasn’t their question! They didn’t ask Jesus to do something. They didn’t ask him to make it all go away. They said, “Do you not care?” And Jesus asks them in return, “Have you still no faith?” Do you still question my commitment, my devotion? It’s not a matter of believing-that. It’s believing-in! Faith – if it’s faith, at all – isn’t a living, daring confidence that god exists. It’s not a living, daring confidence that god can do anything. It’s a living, daring confidence, as Luther tells us, that god cares! We believe-in god’s grace! We depend on it! We rely on it! We stake our life on it! Our life and the lives of everyone around us! And even if during the storm. When Jesus is in the stern of the boat. Sleeping on a cushion. We’re certain and we’re sure he cares! Always has! Always will!