June 21, 2009

Okinawa is a tropical island. Now is the end of the rainy season and beginning of the typhoon season. Our Gospel Reading for today is Mark 4:35-41, the story of Jesus calming the storm on Lake Galilee. Three years ago when this Bible reading from Mark 4 was to be read, the third typhoon of the Year 2006 arrived. On Sunday morning it was "TC-1E, Typhoon Condition 1 Emergency." No one could come to church. So, this last Friday as I wrote this sermon, I was wondering how the weather would be on Sunday.

Okinawa is an island, surrounded by water, so it is like a big ship. When the weather gets bad, water splashes into a ship, and people get afraid. When a typhoon hits Okinawa, the rain and waves and wind are very hard, and it is dangerous. Just like the disciples called on Jesus to help them, we too need to call upon Jesus to help and protect us in the time of storm and in the time of all dangers?dangers of storms, of virus, of accidents, of fires, of invasion, of sickness and disease.

During the storms of our lives, both the bad weather storms and the problems and stresses of life, sometimes it seems that Jesus is sleeping. It may be that we forget that Jesus is with us in the boat. We forget that Jesus is always with us. We go through our lives trying to solve problems by ourselves. We try our hardest to bail out the water and keep on rowing. Of course, that is why God gave us humans our minds and talents to solve problems in our lives. It is when we think that we no longer need God that we get into problems. When we get to the end of our strength or the end of our wits that is when we panic and become afraid of life, afraid of dying.

In the Bible story, during the height of the storm, Jesus is sleeping soundly on cushion in the stern of the boat. It had been a long day teaching the crowds, and now Jesus was resting. The waves were crashing into the boat, filling it with water and the boat was about to sink. The Disciples panicked. And so they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" I do not think the disciples at this point were looking for a miracle; they probably wanted Jesus to help bail out water. This can be our problem, too. We might think that Jesus is just sleeping and we say like the disciples, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" We doubt that God loves us. If we have big problems in life, if we have serious health problems or difficult family problems, then we might doubt Godfs love. If God does loves us, then why do bad things happen to us? Our fear of danger becomes greater because we doubt Godfs love. If we say "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" then Jesus says to us, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Our faith is renewed. We see Jesus in our lives. We see that he does care. He says "Quiet! Be still!" Is he speaking to the storm or to us? He may not be talking to the storms and problems of our lives. He may be speaking rather to the storms of our hearts. "Quiet! Be still!" In the midst of the storms and problems of our lives we find peace and trust in God.

But there may come a storm that is too strong for our little boat. Because of disease or accident or natural disaster, we might die. We will all die sometime, unless the end of the world comes and Jesus returns to earth during our lifetimes. When we are dying we might be tempted to say like the disciples, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" But Jesus does care. He cares about whether we drown or die. Jesus cared so much that he died on the cross. He died because we are sinners who deserve death. Do you remember what Jesus cried out from the cross? It was a cry like ours. gMy God, my God, why have your forsaken me?h eFather, donft you care if I die on the cross?f But the Father did care. The Father did love his Only Begotten Son. In the midst of mocking and temptation and horrible pain and suffering, Jesus knew that God loved him. In faith he said, gFather, into your hands I commit my spirit.h He died in faith and peace. Then on the third day he rose again. Because Jesus died and rose again, we have hope for our own resurrection. The Holy Spirit reminds us of this. The Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts and souls, "Quiet! Be still!" Donft be afraid, have faith. In awe we confess our faith. "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" Why, it is Jesus, my Savior!

When there is a typhoon or storm, when there is sickness and problems, we remember todayfs wonderful Gospel lesson. We remember that Jesus loves us. In the last three years there have been times when I felt my little ship of life was rocking and reeling and about to sink. I have been sick, Ifve had accidents, people I love have died, I have been discouraged many times. But I always knew that Jesus was in the boat with me. Even if the boat were to sink, Jesus is with me. That is what Baptism teaches us. We drown with Jesus, we arise with Jesus. And I always remember my favorite Bible passage, Romans 8:28, gAnd we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.h In that love, we are moved to pray for all those who are in danger: bad weather, disease, war, family violence, emotional problems, fear, loneliness, unbelief. We pray that Jesus will rebuke the winds and waves. "Quiet! Be still!" And this faith gives us peace and trust in the midst of lifefs storms.

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