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Pentecost 10 The 10th Sunday after Pentecost August 9, 2020 Sermon by Pastor Cindy Bullock The Holy gospel according to St. Matthew. 22[Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee], while he dismissed the crowds.23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” 28Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” The gospel of the Lord. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Is that a great story or what? It’s beautiful and hopeful, and full of ways for the Spirit to speak to us about the attentiveness and mercy of a loving God. And so many questions that swirl around this story like the wind. So many things to wonder about. Today I want to wonder about 3 things – 3 different questions. Feel free to type in your thoughts as we go along. – Let’s try this. Question 1: Why is Jesus walking in the dark? The story begins with Jesus sending the disciples out on the lake while he takes some time to pray. The disciples go out, and they find themselves in a storm. Being “battered by the wind.” Everything is in flux around them. The deck in the boat is moving; the water outside is moving. They’re thrown around in the boat. Hanging on, battling the sea through the night. Early in the morning, (literally) in the 4th watch of the night, Jesus comes walking on the water. That’s between 3 and 6 am. Between completely dark, you can’t see anything, to that misty, mysterious light before dawn. So here’s my question: If you are going to perform a miracle, why would you do it in the dark? Why is Jesus walking on water on a cloudy night in the dark? Don’t you think Jesus could have gotten a lot more mileage out of a bright daylight miracle that everybody could see? Why is he hidden? Perhaps because God is usually hidden – most miracles, even the ones Jesus performed are subtle. Jesus gave the loaves and fish to the disciples to hand out last week. Only a few witnessed the water turned to wine or a child raised from the dead. No one at all witnessed the resurrection. Many, not all, but many of Jesus’ miracles were not for public view. And so it is today. People are healed, or gifted, or lifted up, and we never know it. The earth turns and produces beauty and goodness, and we don’t always notice. Jesus doesn’t heal every person or walk on every lake, but we forget that we are still surrounded by miracles. Why did Jesus walk on water in the dark? Because that is how he works - Peer into the darkness and you’ll see him. Miracles are all around us. Question 2: Why does Peter get out of the boat? What in THE world would compel someone to say to Jesus, “Command me to come to you”? There are many ways to answer this. Here’s one thought. Peter was a disciple. Which means Peter was an apprentice. Which means Peter was supposed go where the teacher goes and do what the teacher does. Peter comes across as impulsive, but I think Peter wants with every fiber of his being to be near Jesus, to learn from Jesus, to be like Jesus. He’s willing to give it a shot. I’m not sure that’s such a bad thing. Think about an apprentice today. You’re learning a trade, say carpentry. Do you sit on the other side of the room and think, “I could never do that”? A good student would be right there beside the mentor, asking questions, trying it for herself. So if we are Jesus’ apprentices, how do we “get out of the boat?” How to we learn and grow in Jesus presence even in the midst of stormy, unsettled times? How about… • How about prayer –There is centering and calm that comes from speaking and listening to the teacher. A sense of clarity and focus even if the prayer is lament & tears, or just being quiet. • How about Practices – hospitality, generosity, sabbath, blessing others. Doing what Jesus did and learning from the doing. • Or how about going where Jesus went to be with people who are hurting, or in need, oppressed or on the margins – with those who need to hear the love, mercy and justice of God. There we’ll see him and learn from him. I think Peter got out of the boat to do what an apprentice does: imitate his master. We can too. Question 3: Peter gets out of the boat and Peter walks – Why do we forget that Peter walked on water? If you read only verse 29 you hear, [Jesus] said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. (period.) He did it. We always remember the failing – the falling – we picture Peter going down. But before that – Peter walks on water. Why do we forget that? That example of deep trust and holy risk? Not risk for risk’s sake, not jumping into a virus, but listening to Jesus and moving toward him. Jesus calls us ALL to keep growing and trying. And gives us what we need to do it. Why do we think about failing? Does the fear of sinking keep us from getting out of the boat? From trying something new? Oh, we of little faith. Peter tried, and for a time, he followed his master. And when he lost focus, when he went down, who picked him up? The one who called him and let him walk, also held him when he started to sink. Why do we forget that part? It’s a beautiful story. A storm. Jesus walking on the water. Peter walking toward Jesus, and falling, and being lifted up. Then Jesus stills the chaos. The wind ceased and remember what the disciples said? “Truly you are a son of god.” That moment carries us forward to similar words said by a centurion at the cross: Truly this was a son of God. And forward further to another miracle that happened in the 4th watch of the night. – When at dawn 3 women went to a tomb and found it empty. Because the one who walked across water, also walked across death, blazing a path, and opening a way into abundant and eternal life, and he says “come.” A beautiful story with many questions, so many wonderings. I’ll leave you with one more question. How might Jesus be calling out to you – come. Come peer through the darkness and see who I am? Come take a holy risk and do what I do? Come know that I will bear you up? How might Jesus be calling you, and how might you answer? Amen. .
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