Spirit Soundings, October 17, 2014

stormseaSPIRIT SOUNDINGS

October 17, 2014

Ruth Faith Santana-Grace

Reflections on Mark 4:35-39

 
“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he 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?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.” Mark 4:35-39

 

Into the Storm – Peace! Be still!

The story is a familiar one – one that I was recently reminded resonates well with the tales of sea-faring sailors. It’s a story that reminds us that life is often filled with storms – rocking waves reflecting the unexpected challenges of life – casting us about, causing us to feel as if we are out of control, on the verge of perishing.  It’s also been the story of the church as it has made its way through history – often finding itself on seas of cultural realities that shake the very foundations on which it stands, causing its crew to wonder if it would capsize.

I frankly cannot remember a season when the storms of life and cultural realities have not tossed believers and the church about.  It would appear that the norm is precisely in this journey – a journey between the people of faith as they consider what it means to interpret that faith in a way that is relevant for the world in which they live.  The New Testament speaks to those challenges clearly as a community of faith is born – as they wrestle with issues of inclusion and exclusion; as they wrestle with issues of power and influence; as they wrestle with the assumptions of their day.

The thrashing about on us and the church continues today as it is experienced in the waves of violence crashing in the streets of our cities; as it is experienced in the waves of racism and every other ‘ism’ imaginable as we remain silent before the ‘de-humanizing’ of brothers and sisters; as it is experienced in the waves of isolation and alienation that plague our society; as it is experienced in the waves of socio-economic disparity; as it is experienced in the waves of hunger and poverty; as it is experienced in the waves of an education system that is failing in our cities.  The thrashing about on us and the church is experienced over and over again; causing us to despair, causing us to call out to Jesus in desperation.  Although he might appear to be sleeping, he is indeed with us on this journey.

This week I was reminded that it is precisely into these storms that you and I are called to serve.  I was touched deeply by the sermon of one of our minister members, the Rear Admiral Rev. Margaret Grun Kibben, Deputy Chief of US Navy Chaplains- as she reminded us of this truth.  It is precisely into these storms of injustice, pain, terrorism, immigration, spiritual and economic poverty (and so much more) that we – servants of the Church of Jesus Christ – are called to witness and embody the grace and love of our Lord.

And friends, as you and I know, this is not easy work – it is often difficult work.  We will often be tossed about.  We will often feel as if we are perishing when faced with the tsunami-like waves before us.  But the one who invites us to enter the other side; the one who journeys with us will speak into the storm – “Peace, Be Still”.  And for another while, we will together experience the calm of the sea.

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