This morning we are IN the boat.
Well, in the Gospel we are. We are in the boat with Jesus!
And… God bless Him, Jesus does what so many people may like to do in that circumstance after a long day of teaching… he takes a nap.
However, the others don’t.
They’re staying awake, watching, sailing, likely chatting.
And worrying.
Because: the sudden gale has come up. And waves are beating the boat. And they are taking on water.
This is a reasonable time for concern!
But I’d also like for us to consider the perspective…
The Sea of Gallilee isn’t the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a reasonable size, to be sure… large enough to get some good wind from. It’s about 21km long and 13 wide. At its deepest it’s 141 feet deep. So it’s big – but there’s the perspective to remember that wherever you are on this sea, you can see the shore.
It’s why so many of the scripture passages tell us of going from one side to the other – relatively quickly and easily.
So! There they are, all in the same boat.
…
And this is where it might be helpful to recall that they are NOT, in fact, in the same boat.
Jesus and his friends are in one boat. “Just as he was” is how he entered that situation.
And: OTHER BOATS WERE WITH HIM. There’s more people following and accompanying. That’s important – we know that when one boat goes down, we rely on other boats for salvage. To help us out of the waters. To lift us back to the place we’re meant to be.
I’m speaking, of course, both literally and figuratively.
The multiple boats mean there is an increased sense of safety for the folks. They are not alone.
There’s a lesson for us there too – that when a community is following Jesus, no one gets left alone. No one is out there without backup. No one is without interconnection… which also means that no one is free from responsibility… to reach out to others who need it. To assist as able when life’s storms overtake. To provide the physical, emotional, and at times spiritual support to help buoy one another up when the storms of life are raging.
Ah, yes, The storm.
THE storm. Egads, gadzooks, the storm.
The storm arises – what one academic refers to as “apocalyptic boat ride from hell.” – and the folks are trying to deal with it as best they can. And when storms are raging, this is when people can feel at their most alone. The storm can make us forget the other boats that are along us.
Because we’re busy dealing with the storm. We’re focused so much on how we are doing that we can lose sight of how others are doing.
And each boat may be dealing with the storm in very different ways… a larger boat with higher sides may think of it as an inconvenient rough patch; a dorey may be entirely wrecked.
Life is like that. The storms hit, but we have different responses – depending on how we are doing. COVID, for example, is showing us the different resiliencies that we all have; the different resources that we all tap into.
And by US I mean each of us as individuals, as families and households, as communities, as churches. And as a global community.
And we can reflect on how COVID is not the only storm that we face: we have a world where war and conflict are present, where ageism and sexism are daily realities, where racism is systematically rampant. The storms are raging.
So it’s good for us to worry about our own boats…
But it’s also good for us to “open wide our hearts” as Paul writes to the others in our midst, to see and respond to the impacts of life’s storms affecting us all in different ways.
And how do we do THAT?
Well, we turn again to the example in the Gospel.
As the folks alongside Jesus did in their moment of fear: they turn to Jesus. Even when they don’t know that THIS is the Song of God in their midst.
And – as always – Jesus saves.
Salvation is at hand.
Beautiful, confusing, eternal, undeniable salvation: standing right there before these disciples.
So amazing that they don’t even realise it – hence the “who IS this guy?” when they receive the gift that Jesus – and Jesus alone – brings.
So let’s talk about what salvation looks like. Because it’s way more complicated and complex and absolutely BEAUTIFUL than a downed Philistine or a nice day on the waters.
Salvation is what is being revealed by Jesus as he rebukes the wind.
True salvation that can only come from God – because salvation is not about having a nice comfortable 3-hour cruise; salvation is about the deliverance of the soul from sin and its consequences.
And THAT is how Jesus reveals himself – and God’s promise fulfilled – in one simple act of calming the waters – and the people – with one command for peace and stillness.
And while there is a broad range of ideas and theologies around the concept of salvation – it’s a field of study called soteriology – one constant is that salvation is about our souls. Our spirit. Our very being.
NOT about the body; which we understand through biology as being continuously adapting, as we shed cells and build new ones.
Don’t get me wrong – there is no harm in asking for physical help and saving when we’re caught in physical danger. We all do it!
But salvation – the holy salve – the spiritual protection! That comes from God – and God alone. Salvation of our souls.
This is what we cry to God for. This is more precious and desirable than just harm reduction for our bodies.
And it’s not always easy – because the storms of life can be fervent. Persistent. Overwhelming.
And the connection of body and soul is our normal – it can be a challenge to discern the distinction of soul and body when we live IN our bodies.
But the truth God’s salvation continues:
The Psalmist declares: that those who know the name of God will put their trust in God, and God will not forsake those who seek God.
Paul assures the Corinthian church that “now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!” – and that every day is the day of salvation.
And Jesus reveals himself to be the physical embodiment – the true and undeniable incarnation – of God’s real and amazing presence on earth, connecting with people and embedded in communities, as his divinity is demonstrated in calling for people to have faith and not fear, for their salvation is already assured.
So here we are, as I said at the start: In the boat. With Jesus. And with each other. Standing together to overcome whatever storms may be raging around us.
It reminds me of the hymn by Charles Albert Tindley – the first verse reads:
When the storms of life are raging,
stand by me; (stand by me)
when the storms of life are raging,
stand by me. (stand by me)
When the world is tossing me
like a ship upon the sea,
thou who rulest wind and water,
stand by me. (stand by me)
Peace. Be Still.
Truly: this is the Good News of God.
Amen.
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