SMVPH - "Where is your faith?"

"Where is your faith?"

Sermon for the Second Sunday before Lent February 11th 2007 - © Roberta Berke.

"Faith" is a word that is used quite loosely. "Faith schools" means schools with a particular religious affiliation. "Faith communities" is used to refer to groups of people who may actually have little in common. I can show you my faith. Here it is: a £5 voucher from Faith Shoe Shop. What do we really mean when we use the word "faith"? And what did Jesus mean when he said to his disciples, "Where is your faith?"

In today's gospel, Jesus wanted to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. News of his healing powers had spread far and wide, and he had been besieged by excited crowds. Just before Jesus got into a boat, the crush of people had been so dense that even his own family couldn't get near him. Jesus needed stillness to refresh himself. From time to time, Jesus withdrew to deserted places to find quiet, to pray, and to rest. He was certainly tired, for he soon fell asleep in the stern of the boat. Jesus was human as well as divine and it's not surprising that sometimes he was exhausted from his work of healing and teaching. The hills on either side of the Sea of Galilee funnel the winds and intensify their strength, causing squalls and high waves. A sudden storm blew up and struck the boat carrying Jesus and his disciples. Gusts of wind blasted the sail. Ropes broke loose and whipped through the air, and the boat pitched and rolled from side to side. Rain poured down, waves crashed over the sides and the boat rapidly filled with water. It was all hands on deck. Some dodged under the boom that swung wildly and tried to grab the sail and haul it in. Others attempted to bail out the water that was rapidly swamping the boat. Several disciples were probably seasick. They were drenched to the skin and working desperately. Yet even the disciples who were experienced fishermen began to panic. The boat was now dangerously low in the water and they were too far from shore to swim, especially in this storm. Yet through all this howling wind, shouting, and in this lurching boat, Jesus slept peacefully.

In an emergency there is nothing so irritating as someone who appears idle or indifferent. In Mark's gospel, the disciples' words when they wake Jesus are harsh: Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" What did they expect Jesus to do? Wake up and realise that they were all about to die? Although they had seen Jesus heal the sick, other healers had also done cures. Certainly the disciples never expected anything like what Jesus did next.

Jesus "rebuked" the wind and waves. "Rebuked" is the same word used to describe Jesus exorcising demons. Jesus said, "Peace! Be still!" The wind and the waves obeyed Jesus. The wind dropped and the waves were still. The sea and the little boat were calm. Jesus said to his disciples, "Where is your faith?" What was his tone of voice when he said this? Was he rebuking the disciples for their lack of faith? Or was he questioning them? Perhaps Jesus said, Where is your faith?", as a gentle reassurance.

This is a lovely story, but the problem for us is that can seem only that: a lovely story. Often God doesn't seem to stop the storms in our lives. A friend of mine and his wife were driving home one evening when another car smashed into them head-on. She was killed instantly, he was badly injured. Unfortunately we can all cite similar examples. The storm on the Sea of Galilee is only one example of the different kinds of chaos that cause suffering. There are natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes. Disease, illness, and addictions afflict people throughout the world. Our attempts to bring order to our lives are upset by accidents, dishonesty, crime and war. These events make us question. Why doesn't God do something? Is he asleep in the back of the boat? Doesn't God care? Is God powerless? If we read parts of the Old Testament literally, we may wonder if God punishes certain people by inflicting disasters on them. Does God send troubles to test us? Are misfortunes the result of our weak faith?

The disciples' reactions to Jesus' calming the storm are surprising. Instead of being relieved that they were safe, they were "afraid and amazed". They were more terrified by Jesus' power over nature than by the storm itself. They knew how the Psalms described God's power over storms. "…who is as mighty as you, O LORD? ….You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them." Because Jesus demonstrated a God-like command over the sea, the disciples began to realise that Jesus had divine power. The point of this story is not the physical miracle of Jesus stilling the storm, but the disciples' recognition of Jesus' divine power. The disciples began to have faith in Jesus' power to save.

What is our response when Jesus asks, "Where is your faith?" What did he mean by "faith"? In this case, "faith" doesn't mean believing in a particular set of doctrines, or a particular religious allegiance. As the disciples in the storm-tossed boat discovered, faith doesn't mean security. Our faith isn't a guarantee that bad things will never happen to us. Faith doesn't mean absolute certainty. All of us have doubts. Even Jesus had a moment of doubt on the cross.

"Where is your faith?" Faith doesn't mean ignoring the storms in our lives, but faith does mean not letting ourselves be overwhelmed by chaos. From today's story we can learn that faith involves stillness, calm. Jesus was going to the other side of the Sea of Galilee to find some stillness away from the crowds. We all need stillness. As Lent approaches, here is a chance to heed the command to "be still and know that I am God." To know God, even in our imperfect understanding, means knowing that he is trustworthy and true, that he loves us, and that we can have faith in him. Faith means accepting God's promises, and having confidence in God. Like the storm-tossed disciples, we need to recognise Jesus' power to save. Even when we are surrounded by storms, we can still rely on our Saviour sitting calmly in the boat with us. AMEN.