Proper 14A 2020 – August 9 2020
First Sunday Back
1 Kings 19:9-18; Psalm 85:8-13; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33
You all have heard the expression, “We’re all in the same boat.” It means, according to the Cambridge dictionary, “to be in the same unpleasant situation as other people.”
The disciples on the sea were all in the same boat. They were storm-tossed and afraid, not sure they’d make it to morning’s light.
I’ve heard a lot of people use “We’re all in the same boat” about the Pandemic we’re dealing with… It’s been affecting every country. A lot of business are hurting. The illness can affect all ages.” Usually people use the expression to help us engender compassion for one another. “Since we’re all in the same boat, we might as well work together.”
19th century British theologian G.K. Chesterfield once said, “We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea, and we owe each other a terrible loyalty.”
But there’s another, similar, phrase that I think feels a little more accurate.” .
“We’re all in the same storm, But we’re in different boats.”
I recently saw this phrase attached to an image that showed a raging sea, with lightning and waves and rain and wind…. And in the water were several different types of boats.
A battleship, a big yacht, a sailboat, a rowboat, a life-raft.
You’re experience of the storm would be a lot different depending on what kind of boat you were in, wouldn’t it?
I think we can look at the world today, and all the issues we’re dealing with and see that we all may be experiencing the same storms…. But many of us are in different boats.
For example, its so lovely for me to be able to finally worship together again… to actually preach to people and not just to my iPhone! For 5 months we have been apart. How we’ve dealt with it depends on what kind of boat you’re in.
For people like me, during this time of isolation and pandemic, I admit I’ve been in a pretty comfortable boat, perhaps even a yacht. I live in a nice house with my husband who is working at home and we get to have his kids with us every other week. I’ve been able to come into the office when I want, and here I have fellow staff and parishioner volunteers I can talk with – at least from a 6’ distance. All my loved ones are healthy and, while keeping all the safety protocols, I’ve been able to get out and do the business I need to. It’s not been all easy, but over all there have been bright sides to this storm cloud for me.
But for others, the effects of the COVID storm have been harder to navigate…. If your single, or unable to get out as much, the isolation can lead to depression and loneliness. Many Seniors living in facilities haven’t been able be with their family for months! Some people have had to put off needed medical procedures. Plenty of workers haven’t had the option to work from home, while some are still unemployed or have seen their business lose money. And heaven help those who don’t have a home at all to quarantine in. Same storm. Different boats.
We could apply that same saying to other issues going on in the world today. The political tensions and racial tensions in this country are storming around us… the various boats we are in affect how we experience these things. What kind of boat are you in? A boat built by privilege, education, and resources? Or a boat that has been pounded by storm after storm of prejudice and lack of opportunity. Your perspective and mine might be different depending on what kind of boat we find ourselves in. We might even differ in how we understand the storm… are these strong winds pushing us to new shores? leading us to positive change? Or do the gales threaten to break apart our only means of navigating the waters? Same storm. Different boats.
I guess another aspect we can consider is this: Do we get to choose our boats? Or do our boats choose us? I think both are true to some extent. I guess we could ask the same about the storm. I certainly know that some people have had to deal with storms much bigger than I ever have… but I think the key aspect here is, in this life, God never promised us clear sailing. We all have storms. Sometimes, like in the story of Elijah in the cave, and Jesus sending the disciples ahead in the boat, it seems that God actually, purposefully, sends us out knowing we’ll encounter a storm.
How we experience those storms and handle those storms has to do with - what kind of boat we’re in…. and what kind of boat we choose…
Some aspects of our boat are just handed to us by the circumstances of life, or the structures of society. Other aspects we have a choice in. I think the words of the serenity prayer fit here: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.
Let’s get back to our biblical texts for today.
In our Old Testament lesson, Elijah has just confronted King Ahab and defeated the Prophets of Baal. It was a fantastic display of God’s power - Elijah called down fire from heaven and everything! But King Ahab’s wife, Jezebel is none to happy and has vowed to have Elijah put to death. So Elijah is fleeing for his life. The storm that Elijah faces is ungodly corrupt rulers leading Israel astray, and who are set against him and against God’s will. It was the storm faced by the other Israelites as well. On top of that, there was drought and famine in the land. Elijah has cried out to God, “I’ve had enough Lord,” he said, “Take my life.” But God sustains him with miraculous food and drink in the desert… and in that strength, he travels 40 days and nights to go to Mt. Horeb. Which is where our passage begins. The word of God comes to Elijah and asks, “What are you doing here?” A question he asks Elijah twice… So maybe Elijah hadn’t been following God’s navigational chart in the first place.
Elijah begins his lament again, “I’ve been zealous for you, God, but all the Israelites have rejected you! I’m the only one left, and my life is on the line.” It sounds like he thinks that he’s the only one experiencing the storm, and that he’s all alone in the boat. Elijah finds the baggage of fear and anxiety into his boat, perhaps of even depression.
He looks for the voice of God in the storms on the mountain – in the wind, in the earthquake and in the fire. But God isn’t there. God appears in the still, small, voice…. In the sound of sheer silence. In the silence Elijah can hear God’s voice. Yes, there is a storm in Israel, but God has a plan. God assures Elijah that he is not the only one out on this stormy sea. There are 7000 others who will carry on the fight.
The same storm looks a lot different when you know you are part of a whole fleet, and not just a lone boat tossed on the waves. The boat fueled by faith and solidarity is a lot better than the boat of fear and isolation.
The story we have in the gospel today falls right on the heels of the story we heard last week – the feeding of the 5000. If you remember, Jesus had been trying to find a solitary place to pray after the death of John the Baptist, but was met by the crowds. In his compassion he healed and fed them with 5 loaves and 2 fish. Finally, at the end of the day, he sent the disciples away in a boat while he dismissed the crowd. Jesus finally took the solitary prayer time he needed.
I think Jesus knew they’d be encountering a storm. In the evening the boat was already far from shore and buffeted by the wind. But Jesus does not go to them until the 4th watch of the night, between 3-6 am. Jesus must have known they’d be frightened, but he also was clear what he was called to do – to re-center himself in prayer, and in his Father’s will.
I believe God knows that dealing with adversity and the storms of life can open us up to encounter him. Dealing with storms helps us learn and builds our strength. I don’t believe God causes the storms in our life, but God doesn’t always prevent them either.
There’s a Contemporary Christian song called “Sometimes he calms the storm.” It’s chorus goes like this:
Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn't mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child
How are the disciples experiencing this storm? What kind of boat are they in? It had been a long and confusing day, and now they’ve been compelled by Jesus to get in their small fishing boat to go on ahead. As the wind and waves kick up, they find themselves in a boat of fear and anxiety, which just added to their exhaustion and confusion. Were they angry that Jesus wasn’t with them? Angry that he seemed to have abandoned them?
Maybe. But they were also obedient. Jesus had told them to go to the other side. It would have been easier to turn around and head back to shore. But if they had been disobedient, they would have missed what Jesus was doing in that storm.
At the right time, Jesus does come to them, miraculously, walking on the water. God’s timing is often different than ours. And when Jesus does come, the disciples don’t recognize him at first. One of our constant refrains when we are battling the storms of life needs to be, “Where are you Lord?” and to keep a look out for how Jesus comes to us.
Jesus responds with words of comfort, power and assurance. “Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid.” Have Courage, I AM. Fear not. In saying “It is I, eigo emi in Greek, he is using the very name of God – Yahweh. I AM who I am. Fear Not. God is God.
Peter is ready to accept this, and, at Jesus’ invitation, steps out of the boat of fear into the waves of faith. He doesn’t make it long before he falters, but he shows us just what the power of Jesus can do. And then, when Jesus gets in the boat, the storm is calmed for all of them. Finally, all of their eyes are opened and they proclaim, “Truly, you are the son of God.”
In this world, there are storms. The kind of boat we have can make a difference in how we handle those storms. Same storm. Different boats. Some boats we may not get to choose, which means we need to refrain from judging other people’s boats, and to be ready to help out those in vessels less sea-worthy than ours.
But we do have some say in how we equip our boats, and what passengers and cargo we take along with us. Do we load ourselves down with baggage like self-pity, fear, self-interest or anxiety. Or can we trust that God is God, and decide to weather the storms with faith, centeredness, and hope?
We are called to follow God’s leading in obedience, even if it leads us into scary storms. We are called to look out for Jesus on the waves, and be ready to meet him when he calls. And always, we are called to invite him into our boats, where we can find his peace and power.
A boat with Jesus aboard can whether any storm. Amen.