Start:Stop-The Stilling of the Storm

Sieger Koder - Stilling the Storm

Thank you for joining us for Start:Stop. This reflection will last around ten minutes and you are welcome to come and go as your schedule dictates. We begin with a short bible reading which can be found on page 8 of the New Testament section of the bibles.

Bible Reading : Matthew 8:23-27 

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”

Reflection

Ancient writings such as the Baal Cycle, as well as the books of the Old Testament, suggest that from the earliest times, water was seen not only as essential for life, but also a source of disorder, danger and chaos. In the beginning, we are told in Genesis, “the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep” before a wind from God swept over the waters and God created light.

Even if we have never been in mortal danger – like the disciples on the boat on the Sea of Galilee - many of us will be able to recall times when life appeared to be overwhelming; a storm of disorder, danger and chaos – times when we have been in the grip of fear. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of not being wanted, of losing a relationship, a child or a job. Fear of death.

Like the disciples, it is often at these times that we look for Christ. Their cry - “Lord save us” - has a familiar ring. Perhaps this is why this story appears in all three of the synoptic Gospels?

In the Gospel according to Matthew, which we have just heard, the story follows two accounts of Jesus’s teaching about discipleship; first a scribe who wishes to follow him and then a disciple who wishes to bury his father before doing so. Only in Matthew’s account of the story do the disciples follow Jesus into the boat. The way Matthew describes the storm is also different to the accounts in Mark or Luke. Matthew chooses the word seismos –  a word more commonly used to describe what will happen at the end of times. It is from this perspective that some scholars have suggested that in Matthew’s account, we are encouraged to see past the immediate danger of drowning at sea – to something beyond – that this is a story about the “danger and glory of discipleship”.  However there are those who say that focussing on the theme of discipleship detracts from the significance of Jesus in the passage and distracts us from the real question: “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”

Perhaps both perspectives are true, as we engage with the text at different times in our lives; sometimes we may be surveying the ups and downs of our journey of faith from a distance – at other times we may encounter this scripture whilst in the midst of a storm. In either case, we find Jesus in the boat with us, asking “Why are you afraid?”

As we are reminded on the front page of this morning’s newspapers, Donald Trump has said “Real power is - I don’t even want to use the word - fear.” This word, taken from an interview with Bob Woodward in the Washington Post, has become the title of the author’s best selling book, which he describes as “a picture of a White House administration that’s going through a nervous breakdown.” A place where staff and advisors are afraid to confront Trump even when they believe they should. This is a portrait of a community paralysed by fear.

Preaching on the miracle of Jesus stilling the storm, two weeks before Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, the Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer said “The Bible, the gospel, Christ, the church, the faith – all are one great battle cry against fear in the lives of human beings. Fear is, somehow or other, the archenemy itself. It crouches in people’s hearts. It hollows out their insides, until their resistance and strength are spent and they suddenly break down. Fear secretly gnaws and eats away at all the ties that bind a person to God and to others, and when in a time of need that person reaches for those ties and clings to them, they break and the individual sinks back into himself or herself, helpless and despairing, while hell rejoices.”

Addressing his congregation as Germany’s first republic was teetering on the brink of collapse, with the “Red Tide from the East” on the horizon and fighting in the streets, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was no more certain of the future than anyone else – but he did know where to turn. He said:

“Learn to recognise and understand the hour of the storm, when you are perishing. This is the time when God is incredibly close to you, not far away. God wants to show us that when you let everything go, when you lose all your own security and have to give it up, that is when you are totally free to receive God and be kept totally safe in God. God is close to us then, not far away. Our God is on the cross.”

In a time of silence before we pray, as we prepare to enter the season of Advent in as turbulent times as ever, let us give thanks that Jesus is Emmanuel – which means God with us.

Meditation

Prayers

A prayer written by Thomas Merton:

My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

nor do I really know myself,

and the fact that I think I am following your will

does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you

does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,

though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always though

I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me,

and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

As we continue in prayer the response to ‘In times of storm and distress’ is:

God is our hope and strength

In times of storm and distress,

God is our hope and strength.

Lord, we pray for all whose lives are scarred by fear, who are anxious for themselves or for a loved-one.

We pray for those who are discouraged and see no future.
Help them to loosen their hold on fear and find peace in your presence.

In times of storm and distress,

God is our hope and strength.

Lord, we pray for those who are fearful of losing their power and status.
Give strength to all who live in fear of those in authority.
Grant wisdom and courage to those who lead; that they may do so guided by your love.

In times of storm and distress,

God is our hope and strength.

Lord, we pray for all who are sick, especially those who fear death.

Comfort those who mourn and are overwhelmed with grief.

Spare them the torment of guilt and despair.

In times of storm and distress,

God is our hope and strength.

Lord, we pray for those gripped by the fear of isolation,

For those whose relationships have been broken by cruelty and discord
Encourage those who are fearful of reaching out to others.

In times of storm and distress,

God is our hope and strength.

Lord, enable us to still our busy lives, to rest in your presence.

Blessing

Wherever we are,

   wherever we go,

   God is with us,

   To hold, to heal, to guide and to bless.

Let us go then, in peace,

   assured of his love.

in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Thank you for joining us for Start:Stop today. The church is open every day for prayer and contemplation – opening times are on the noticeboard outside. I hope you have a peaceful and prayerful week ahead.