“HE IS NOT PINING - - HE IS PROTECTING”
Saint Matthew 8. 23-27
Fourth Sunday after The Epiphany: 30 January Anno Domini 2011
The Revd Fr JW Watson SSP, pastor
God is almighty. You see that with the eyes of faith in this morning's text (the ears on your head leading to your souls). God is all knowing as well. The fact that the Messiah was asleep did not mean that GOD did not know that there was a storm, a swamping boat, and terrified sinners.
God knowest you to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers. Jesus knew, knows, that the "12" and you disciples are panicking because of the frailty of your nature. Jesus knows that you cannot always (hardly ever) stand upright. So He did.
Adam bent in on himself like a noxious weed and ended up (physically that is) ripped out and rotted back to soil. But Jesus, the Second Adam came and stood tall in place of Adam and his not-so-helpful "help mate."
Jesus stood eye-ball to eye-ball with the old dragon and did not bend or break. Jesus' belly ached with the pain of real and powerful hunger. But Christ did not give in to temptation. Every time you cave to your sinful lusts and desires, well, that struggle was placed on Jesus in the 40 days of desert loneliness…and HE DID NOT BUCKLE, but stood upright like the God/Man and obeyed. He made His Father proud and "well pleased," and all of that charitable communion is placed upon you by Grace. Jesus was the Tree of Life, succulent; green, fruit bearing in obedience, goodness, and shade, in that wilderness of mirrors and satanic malevolence.
Don't ever think that your Savior doesn't know what it's like to be tempted, to be tried, to be hungry, lonely, and concerned. He has felt all of your depression, doubt, and pangs of "wanting to give up and give in." But He didn't. He is now your backbone, your spine, your heart, blood, air, and energy. Christ in you.
As His disciples you follow Him. It's just what you do. You are constrained and drawn by the Holy Ghost. Your "old Adam" will not like it, but you "are what you are" - - Little Christs.
Jesus is in the boat. Jesus' Ship of Salvation is His Church Catholic.
The miracle which eye-witness Saint Matthew records happened. It demonstrates that the Nazarene was God, for only the Creator could instantly rebuke nature and subdue it with a word.
But the "lesson" of this pericope is not that God is an awesome God, but rather that the God/Man is with His followers even when He seems to be asleep and not aware of you emergencies and terrors.
Ships get wet, the wood gets barnacle encrusted and has to be scraped and repaired. Sails and masts need constant upkeep. Sailors get wet, cold, and frightened. Crews get discouraged and homesick - - not for earthly abodes but for longed-for Heavenly mansions; the final port-of-call and safe harbor; not the Grey Havens of Tolkien, but Dock of Deity and the homecoming Feast of Father Abraham (Father, Son + and Holy Spirit).
Don't plot mutiny against your Captain; repent. Don't be a malingerer, ingrate, or dead weight; repent. And don't seek to make the journey harder and sadder on your fellow shipmates, even those that you don't like or understand. The Lord's Boat needs all Her crew; all His disciples. No one ever gets tossed over the side. This Redeemer Pilot is the one that let the pirate snake take Him prisoner. To save His little boat and frightened crew, the Christ was content to walk the plank, was your greater NOAH. Jesus was tossed into the maelstrom of sin, death and hell to calm eternity for you. Jesus wasn't eaten by sharks, a great kraken or even swallowed by a fish like the prophet. Jesus was swallowed, made a "worm" for you, by the devil fish death. And the sea was stilled. You are washed from the salt, brine, and night-sweat terrors by the Blood of the Mariner-Lamb and by the fresh Water from the Christ-cask of His own pierced side. You are fortified for the remainder of this exhilarating voyage not by fresh fruit and rum but by the Fruit of the Tree of the Cross - - i.e. by the New Passover Lamb (Jesus' Body) and by the finest of wines from the lees (Jesus' Blood).
Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Do you not know Who is it that is in this boat with you? Even humans, sinful humans, consider the greatest thing a "band of brothers" can do for one another in war time or periods of death and destruction, is to "leave no one behind." We do not abandon our own fallen on the field of physical combat, and yes, that is one of the greatest accomplishments of even mortal flesh. We all, YOU ALL, simply want to go home. You want to be with your Father once again. You want the pain to stop and the tears to be wiped away. Jesus is taking you home. He will not forget you or leave you fallen on the plain of spiritual or emotional battle; He will leave no one behind. No one is buried by themselves "at sea," but rather carried home to the Promised Land like Joseph.
"Thus saith the Lord…that created thee, O Jacob/Augsburgers, and He that formed thee, O Israel/sons and daughters. I have called thee + by name (My Name); thou art Mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; when thou walkest through the fires thou shalt not be burned (o Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) For I Am the Lord, thy God."
He is not sleeping. His rest, as it appears to you from time to time, is not inattention or abandonment, but rather a sublime, serendipitous repose and calm… a Peace which passeth your understanding. All things in due course. Patience! Faith endures. Christ is you faith. He endureth forever. You too. Dry yourself from your wet sailing clothes in His robe of righteousness. There is the greatest calm right now at the S.S. Augsburg the hot hellish winds are rebuked by the Holy Wind + of Washing and the salt-sea foulness is purified by the Blood-soaked tree thrown into the deluge.
The great glassy sea reflect back to you as you come forward to sup and eat, the great Host of Heaven that feast with you at the foreign shore. In this boat, that shore line is seen, heard, and felt. The church militant and the church triumphant are ONE this day at altar - - with Christ, and IN Christ.
And the women and men and children of Augsburg marvel this day, this moment, what manner of Lord Jesus Christ is this, that He love me, and that he forgives me, and that He feeds and guards me.
In the Name of The Father + and of The Son and of The Holy Ghost
The Peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus