Sermon; Proper 7B; Mark 4:35-41 (Dcn. Sue)

I have lived almost all of my life near a body of water. Biscayne Bay, the beach at Homestead AFB. Annapolis between Spa and Back Creek.  One might think that I have enjoyed the water, and to some degree, yes.

Not like the sailor or power boater desiring a cool breeze in my hair. I'm always a guest.  Appreciative of the time spent waving to other boaters and slathering on suntan lotion.

Once on a Youth Sailing retreat, I actually 'steered' the sailing vessel on the Chesapeake.  We had good wind that day.  The captain pointed out our desired direction, "see that buoy," and at that moment I saw the buoy, he commanded, "Head straight for it." If you've noticed, I'm a tad short.  I stand on a box to be the right height for the pulpit.  There are no boxes to stand on in the stern of the boat where the wheel is.  Most of my time was trying to see over the bow periodically, but we were going at an excellent nautical pace that the bow was slightly raised.  I could no longer see the buoy.  Minutes later, I was tongue-lashed by the captain who took the wheel to move the rudder, and hence we were back on course.  He gestured me back to the wheel and suggested I stay on course by using to compass in front of me.  We made it home.

I've noticed whether, on a sailboat, canoe, or even powerboat, there are rules.  Stay on course, don't stand up, and wear a life vest.  There is checking weather, prepping a course, and trimming some portion of something all the time. It's a lot of work on and off a boat. I'm glad I've been a guest, which led me to these questions for today's Gospel.

How many fishermen did Jesus call?  About 6 or 7.  This would make a great J2A question.  What were the names of the fishermen Jesus called? How many knew what to look for on the horizon to stay on course? How many times did they encounter a squall or storm on the Sea of Galilee?  Yet, there they are waking up an oblivious Jesus, who really could have used a break.

Jesus has no rules when he gets in the boat except to go to the other side. He's been all over the place running from here and there, healing and teaching.  He is in the boat just as he was.  Now it's time for a snooze.  Who checked the weather?  Who charted the course?  Jesus seems to be a guest on this cruise.

The crew Jesus has tasked with going from one side to the other side of the sea are professional fishermen. Don't they have the skills to be safe on the water? I'm finding this passage quite ironic.  We have water, Fishermen, the Sea of Galilee, and a sleepy guest.

What stood out to me is the fear.  All of the boaters are seasoned, and all of them sensed fear.  The commentator's remark this is the first time Mark has used this particular Greek form for fear.  Like all languages, there are degrees of words that may have nuances that may mean various things to people. 

However, this Greek word stands alone and is interpreted as fear in awe.  It will be used in several more verses in Mark, but notably at the end when the women go to the empty tomb.  They were afraid.  The fear is not only the storm taking their lives, but also their eyes are being open again and again about who Jesus is and what Jesus can do.

I bet there have been several times in our seasoned lives of checking the weather, preparing our path, perhaps wearing some reminder of safety on our person, be it a name badge, DOK cross, a book, or pen and paper.  We make decisions that we think are best for us, and if or when we have what we think is security, chaos ensues, and we too sometimes shake our fingers or wonder where God is in this place with us.  Then comes the calm, the peace, and we sit ourselves down and say all the planning, all the safety measures we could take, and all of what was in my hands was perfect but wasn't.  We are then reminded that the path of God's way is the way to love God, yourself, your neighbor, and that is all you may need to go out, be in a spiritual place to feel God with you.  Even in physically, emotionally, and spiritually challenging areas, God is with you.  He died and rose for you.  Jesus gifts us with the Holy Spirit.  Jesus sometimes knows the waters around us swirl with turmoil.  Just like these last 15 months.

In Mark's Gospel, we have a compassionate Jesus who just stood up and stopped the world to show the disciples and us, there is a fine line, but a precious line, between faith and fear.

Draw nearer to hear and see the Good News.  Go and do what Jesus commands.  Be sure in the path.  And like the disciples in today's reading, be afraid of what God is doing, for what you do, and despite what you do.  Draw closer to the one who commands, saves the reluctant and the brave. Be changed in fear and awe.  

Be transformed.