Good Morning Church!
First things first, I want to thank Father Steve and all the folks who made sure the service was a success last Sunday! It is wonderful for me to know that one can be away, and everything will keep on keeping on!
I also want to thank everyone who came to coffee hour on the lawn and practiced proper COVID manners with the wearing of the masks and maintaining a safe distance.
Look for announcements regarding our reopening in the next few weeks. I am hoping that we can get back together soon but remember there will be rubrics in place to ensure the safety and health of our parishioners and most vulnerable. Remember our ability to worship together hinges on our willingness to abide (there is that word again) with our individual responsibilities to care for each other by adhering to the guidelines that will be laid out soon.
All these rubrics, all the planning, social media management, and organization makes it sometimes hard to remember why we are here. We are here for one reason and that reason is God. God does not need us to exist, but we need God to exist. This is true on a big picture level as God is the foundation of the universe. The foundation upon which the quarks, bosons, atoms, and all that scientifically follows rests is God. We also depend on God in our personal lives.
It is true that we depend on God on a very personal level. We grow near to God with every “thank you.” We grow close to God with every “please help me.” Believe it or not, we grow closer to God with every “why in the heck?” In all these interactions we acknowledge and call to God. These entreaties find us calling to God in prayer and acknowledging God’s place in the universe.
We can see this in the scriptures that we encounter through the lectionary this week. I must admit that as a veteran of the USCG and also writing this on Coast Guard Day, I love the Gospel appointed for this week. Maybe you can tell why.
From the Gospel of Matthew-
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
In all the petitions, thanksgivings, and questions we give to God, we probably would love to actually see God coming towards us a rescuer. A savior who is visible, tangible, and mighty coming to our rescue upon the turbulent waters of life is something we all crave. As a veteran of the USCG fleet, I remember so clearly the many times that people told me of their relief and joy to see an orange and white helicopter, a white cutter, a small boat, emerging over top of the waves to deliver them from death and a watery grave. When we are in need, we want that simple and powerful deliverance from the peril and the dangers of this broken world. When I pray for help or for strength, I would love to see Jesus walking upon the water, or across the yard, or into my office saying the words “Do not be afraid!”
While this would be wonderful, I can safely say that I very rarely see Jesus in the flesh coming to my rescue. This is where we must also look to Peter in our Gospel and realize that our interactions with Jesus require a certain amount of trust. This is not to say that this is an economic transaction. There is nothing required of us for God to work in our lives. God is there whether we acknowledge it or not. While this is true, it is also true to say that through our faith and trust we can see God at work in the world and in our lives a little more clearly. We move through life discerning how Jesus, The Father and The Holy Spirit comes to us not only during those times that we call out, but always and eternally. Sometimes the ways God comes to us can be surprising.
God is a God of surprises. Look at Our readings for this week from Kings. In this retelling of the works of the prophet Elijah, we see Elijah running from the Israelites who obviously were not pleased with his prophesizing. They wanted to kill Elijah. In the following verses we see Elijah on the run and taking refuge.
From Kings-
At Horeb, the mount of God, Elijah came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”
He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
God was in the silence. A God of awe and wonder, the God who created the fabric of space and time, the God who created all that inhabits the universe, the God who is worthy of praise and thanksgiving, the God that comes in great glory did not come as we would assume. God did not come with fiery splendor, nor the powerful wind that bends all to God’s majesty, or earth quaking power. God came in the silence. We must also look for God in the silence. We must look for God in the places that we would not assume to look. We must remember that through the silence Elijah felt God. Elijah experienced God because he was open enough to perceive God in a way that was God’s way, not the way he expected. God did not come in the assumed power and might like the tower of fire Moses saw, but God came in the peace of silence in the midst of chaos. God did not come in a helicopter or across the waves in a cutter or on foot, but God came in the silence. After all, God can and does come to us anyway that God wants. The trick is to be open and trusting enough to find God in everything and everywhere.
Look for God, love God, love each other, be good to yourself, but not at the expense of God or the other two, Stay Safe and Stay Healthy.
Fr. Clay+
First things first, I want to thank Father Steve and all the folks who made sure the service was a success last Sunday! It is wonderful for me to know that one can be away, and everything will keep on keeping on!
I also want to thank everyone who came to coffee hour on the lawn and practiced proper COVID manners with the wearing of the masks and maintaining a safe distance.
Look for announcements regarding our reopening in the next few weeks. I am hoping that we can get back together soon but remember there will be rubrics in place to ensure the safety and health of our parishioners and most vulnerable. Remember our ability to worship together hinges on our willingness to abide (there is that word again) with our individual responsibilities to care for each other by adhering to the guidelines that will be laid out soon.
All these rubrics, all the planning, social media management, and organization makes it sometimes hard to remember why we are here. We are here for one reason and that reason is God. God does not need us to exist, but we need God to exist. This is true on a big picture level as God is the foundation of the universe. The foundation upon which the quarks, bosons, atoms, and all that scientifically follows rests is God. We also depend on God in our personal lives.
It is true that we depend on God on a very personal level. We grow near to God with every “thank you.” We grow close to God with every “please help me.” Believe it or not, we grow closer to God with every “why in the heck?” In all these interactions we acknowledge and call to God. These entreaties find us calling to God in prayer and acknowledging God’s place in the universe.
We can see this in the scriptures that we encounter through the lectionary this week. I must admit that as a veteran of the USCG and also writing this on Coast Guard Day, I love the Gospel appointed for this week. Maybe you can tell why.
From the Gospel of Matthew-
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
In all the petitions, thanksgivings, and questions we give to God, we probably would love to actually see God coming towards us a rescuer. A savior who is visible, tangible, and mighty coming to our rescue upon the turbulent waters of life is something we all crave. As a veteran of the USCG fleet, I remember so clearly the many times that people told me of their relief and joy to see an orange and white helicopter, a white cutter, a small boat, emerging over top of the waves to deliver them from death and a watery grave. When we are in need, we want that simple and powerful deliverance from the peril and the dangers of this broken world. When I pray for help or for strength, I would love to see Jesus walking upon the water, or across the yard, or into my office saying the words “Do not be afraid!”
While this would be wonderful, I can safely say that I very rarely see Jesus in the flesh coming to my rescue. This is where we must also look to Peter in our Gospel and realize that our interactions with Jesus require a certain amount of trust. This is not to say that this is an economic transaction. There is nothing required of us for God to work in our lives. God is there whether we acknowledge it or not. While this is true, it is also true to say that through our faith and trust we can see God at work in the world and in our lives a little more clearly. We move through life discerning how Jesus, The Father and The Holy Spirit comes to us not only during those times that we call out, but always and eternally. Sometimes the ways God comes to us can be surprising.
God is a God of surprises. Look at Our readings for this week from Kings. In this retelling of the works of the prophet Elijah, we see Elijah running from the Israelites who obviously were not pleased with his prophesizing. They wanted to kill Elijah. In the following verses we see Elijah on the run and taking refuge.
From Kings-
At Horeb, the mount of God, Elijah came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”
He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
God was in the silence. A God of awe and wonder, the God who created the fabric of space and time, the God who created all that inhabits the universe, the God who is worthy of praise and thanksgiving, the God that comes in great glory did not come as we would assume. God did not come with fiery splendor, nor the powerful wind that bends all to God’s majesty, or earth quaking power. God came in the silence. We must also look for God in the silence. We must look for God in the places that we would not assume to look. We must remember that through the silence Elijah felt God. Elijah experienced God because he was open enough to perceive God in a way that was God’s way, not the way he expected. God did not come in the assumed power and might like the tower of fire Moses saw, but God came in the peace of silence in the midst of chaos. God did not come in a helicopter or across the waves in a cutter or on foot, but God came in the silence. After all, God can and does come to us anyway that God wants. The trick is to be open and trusting enough to find God in everything and everywhere.
Look for God, love God, love each other, be good to yourself, but not at the expense of God or the other two, Stay Safe and Stay Healthy.
Fr. Clay+