Sermon Notes, Pente +5 (Year B)

A couple of weeks ago, I had a conversation with someone about faith – and they weren’t too sure where they stood on the topic.
They said they weren’t sure what they thought about God;
and they struggled with the stories of church-people who do un-Christian things.
And – they confessed that sometimes Sunday mornings they just couldn’t quite talk themselves into getting to church.

I get it. I think if we’re honest; we all have that sometimes.
Because our faith changes.
It weaves throughout our life, influenced by what’s going on around us:
The people we chat with, the programs we watch or listen to, our focus on prayer, all of it.
Our faith – both in God and in the institutional church (and yes, those two can be different) – well, we waver.

Here’s some comforting news: that’s okay.
It’s normal, even.
It’s all throughout our scriptures today.
Saul, even though he has himself heard God’s voice to call David as leader – he then has doubts about David’s ability to defeat the Philistine.
Yet David’s faith increases, and he faces the earthly fears assured of heavenly refuge.

Our Psalmist prays directly to God about the promise of salvation that comes from trust.
Vv9-10: The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in time of trouble; Those who know your name will put their trust in you, for you never forsake those who seek you, O Lord.
There is confidence there! That despite the earth’s challenges, faith in God will help us through the worst of it.

Our Gospel today takes us into the heart of fear: for even the bravest of sailors would recognise that being at sea, at night, when the other boats have left, in a storm… this is is not ideal. Yet Jesus is sleeping.
This in itself is a message of comfort: he was not overcome by fear, he was taking a nap. Think of the way that tired babies will sleep, when someone who cares for them is holding them: whatever else may be going on in the world, they sleep: peacefully, comfortably.
This is how Jesus is on the damp cushion in the swamped boat.
Yet this is also the scenario where his friends are living fully in the moment: they are afraid. Rightly so!
Yet when they call upon him, they do so asking for help.
And help is what they get: for Jesus uses harsh words to rebuke the sea – the same way that he has spoken against anything that will hinder or impede the word of God; anything that that would cause that fear.
And he invites his friends – those who already have faith – to consider why their faith wavered.
In Mark’s Gospel, faith doesn’t grow because the disciples have come safely through adversity; instead we hear of their strengthening faith *before* a scary event like being in the stormy seas.
This re-focuses us to the truth that our faith carries us through life’s challenges.
It doesn’t prevent them: life happens.
But faith does give us the confidence to know God is with us.

And always will be.

And when we accept that: our faith grows. It strengthens, it increases, it emboldens us.
It equips us for ministry: just as we are!
For we are all meant to do God’s will – and to do it enthusiastically.
For faith is not about fading gently into the background, but confidently engaging in our callings.

As Paul wrote to the Corinthians (who had some in-fighting going on, the whole community was having a bit of a crisis of faith).
Paul says:
“As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.”
We are not to ignore this beautiful opportunity to live a life of faith, but to embrace it! God’s grace is so profound, so abundant, so life-changing, that once we have received it, we will see the world with fresh eyes.
With spirits that are enlivened, with hearts that are on fire for God.

And Paul goes back to the Prophet Isaiah when he shares God’s promise of hearing and listening to the house of Jacob – that is, all believers.
And while Paul is speaking to the church at Corinth when he says “now is an acceptable time”
God is also speaking to us!!
God has heard our prayers: our praises, our pleas, our intercessions: and extends to us the same assurance.
NOW is the day!
The day to be heard, to be loved, to be saved!
Today is the day!
There should be nothing that stands in our way, for the love of God will not be decreased, it will not be diminished, it will not be distracted.
So we are called to act. In faith:
With the gifts that we have: to share the power and promise of God.

And our faith opens our hearts to new possibilities to minister to the world around us.
So we should dream big: and with prayers and discernment, act courageously and energetically.

For this is where our faith brings us today.
NOW IS THE DAY!
Now is the time!
When God will open our hearts anew, and re-fill us with joy.

Especially when we find ourselves in that space where we feel our faith is waning – may we hear the words of God coming to us.
To jhave faith.
To dream big.
To not let our own intrusive thoughts get in the way of our hearts, to not let ourselves become obstacles to your own ministry

But instead: to trust.
To identify who we trust.
And how we trust.
And how we carry that into the world with us?

For this is not just a mental exercise, but a promise from God.
NOW IS THE DAY.
For you – for me – for all of us.
Now is the day to love and serve the Lord.
Now is *always* the day.
Thanks be to God!