Rowing Against the Storm

2 Kings 2:1-15; Psalm 114; Ephesians 4:4:1-7, 11-16; Mark 6: 45-52

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Immediately after the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray. When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Today’s gospel story is part of a larger story that we have been reading for the past several weeks. By looking at the entire story, we can understand better what is happening in this passage. The story started with Jesus teaching in his home town of Nazareth, trying to help his neighbors and childhood friends gain a new understanding about God. But, these people remembered him as a child playing in the dusty streets, as a young man learning to be a carpenter and, as in most small towns they knew all about him and his family and had a firm notion of where he fit in the community. They were not open to new ideas and had not faith in him so he could not perform miracles.

So Jesus traveled from his home town and, with the apostles, went from village to village teaching with more success. Next he had empowered those following and sent them out in pairs to teach and preach and heal. They I am sure must have been reluctant and unsure of themselves. They had witnessed much of what Jesus had done, they had learned much of what Jesus had taught about God but to go out and actually do it must have been a scary proposition. I think each of us have been in that position – I know I have – where we almost have to be pushed to do something new like a mother bird pushed her fledglings out of the nest to learn to fly.

But they had done it!! The twelve disciples had been divided into pairs, they went out and preached in all the communities of the region. And the story reports their success. “They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” How excited they must have been when they returned. They had been able to do it!!

When they returned they all gathered around Jesus to report everything. Just imagine, they had experienced something entirely new and liberating and they were bubbling over with excitement. They wanted to share it and understand it and incorporate these events into their personal view of life. But, we are told, so many people were coming and going that they did not even get a chance to eat.

This is the other side of these journeys – six pairs of disciples had just spread over the countryside and entered the villages and performed miracles and healings. The entire region must have been buzzing with the news. People followed them back to experience more and to understand more about what had happened in their villages. But it was too much; the disciples were running out of energy so Jesus suggested they go to quiet place to rest. The moved across the lake but the crowds found them, and the numbers grew. There were five thousand men plus women and children spread around the lakeside when they landed. Just imagine the situation – the disciples had just completed their first travels, performed their first miracles, and come back. They were exhausted from the trip – then they were unable to discuss and comprehend what had just happened – they were tired and hungry (probably more than just a little bit cranky) and now were being surrounded by immense crowds who wanted more. All they wanted was to have some quiet time with their teacher and leader.

Imagine their feelings when Jesus, as usual, decided to stop and spend the day teaching the crowds. More delays – this had been going on all day. And by this time not only were the disciples hungry but the crowds of people were hungry. Then the disciples suggested that the people be sent away to find something to eat. Instead, Jesus said “you give them something to eat.” Once again – the disciples were being pushed to act, to do something, even though the need appeared too great and the resources too small to accomplish anything. And the five thousand – plus were all fed.

But now it was even later, the disciples must have been even more tired although no longer hungry and Jesus gives them one more task to perform. The story reads “immediately after the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida , while he dismissed the crowd.”

What more could happen? How much more could they face in one day? These tired, confused disciples in the boat made it exactly halfway across the Sea of Galilee and were faced with a storm. The sails came down and the exhausted men were struggling against the wind, pulling on the oars. Maybe they were even undecided which way to go with some pulling to go back toward where they last saw Jesus and some pulling toward the other shore where their future plans lay. They did not understand what had happened with the loaves. They had not been able to translate their successes traveling from town to town to the needs and events that followed. So even after all the experiences of God’s power in their lives, the extraordinary over the ordinary, and the effect of God’s love over the huge crowd of people as the sea side, they were still struggling.

The boat is often used as a symbol for the church…and I think the boat in which the disciples find themselves, in many ways is representative of where this particular part of the church finds itself. We have experienced many miracles. Seven or eight years ago this parish was struggling just to keep itself alive. The parish was coming out of the grief of the loss of a dynamic leader and was forced to face financial reality of the cost of remaining open. Discussions were held with planners from the diocese who recommended we close. But a decision was made to remain open and a commitment was made to be truly open – open to the needs of the community not just the needs of those of us who worship in this place.  We are today at the exact center of that journey. This church has begun and continues to remove barriers to reaching that other shore where more ministry and mission work will be accomplished. Physically, a wall was removed which for the first time in decades allowed the community to enter this lovely building from J Street and with the removal of that closed in box, the inspiring Stanford memorial window which represents birth, death and ascension into heaven is once again completely visible and a part of this worship space. Rather than contract our space, this parish committed to the placement of our current parish hall at the back of the church building and it now is in use for community support groups, Sunday school classes, vestry and other meetings as well as regularly used as fellowship space after every Sunday worship service. An even more spectacular miracle was just completed, in the replacement of our leaky roof. This parish committed to repair the roof about three years ago. We did not have resources available for what we knew would be a costly project and asked the community for help. Money had been raised for about ½ the cost from many expected and unexpected sources, when we received a call from Chris Bardis, of Reynen and Bardis Developers, with an offer to donate all the labor and materials to completely redo the roof. (We still had to struggle against the waves and adverse winds as it took three years for everything to be done). Were there times that there were thoughts to just go back and forget this project – I am sure there were. But in the end, I compare this to the feeding of the five thousand – a great need, a lack of resources, a step of faith to move forward, and then another step and another step until, finally it is dry inside this historic and beautiful church.

Even more important to the future of this church parish though, is a process which was started and in which we are exactly in the middle. That is a process of defining what we as a parish feel called to be and how we propose to perform God’s work in this physical space and in our current time. This process has been started with discussion and vision for the future solicited from each of you for the past four years thorough a year round stewardship focus and an annual “Long Range Planning Meeting”. Each person here or even interested in being here is invited to answer the question – on an annual basis. “If resources were unlimited, what would you like St. Paul’s to do in the next three years?”

We have taken another miraculous step toward the future this year as the vestry and others of the parish have worked with Rod Davis who spent his school year with us and guided us in looking at how the structure of this parish can be developed and sustained to reach our vision and enact our mission. From the study of the parish and the discussions about our strengths and desires has come a powerful document. This vision statement was published in the July 2006 Epistle, is posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex, and I hope will be studied and used as a guide for all our church activities.

The vision statement reads:

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Sacramento is a holy place where people come together to worship God as revealed in the life and sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ. It is a holy place that affiliated communities mutually maintain while using to achieve the following:

2. St. Paul’s will be a holy place where people learn about Jesus Christ and are guided to opportunities to further form their Christian faith.
3. St.Paul’s will be a holy place where people in need of pastoral care and/or spiritual direction will receive it and/or be assisted in locating it.
4. St. Paul’s will be a holy place where culturally and economically marginalized people are welcomed, loved and assisted.
   ’s will be a holy place where culturally and economically marginalized people are welcomed, loved and assisted.
5. St. Paul’s will be a holy place where people can mutually support, befriend, and love one another through social fellowship.
6. St. Paul’s will be a holy place where youth, ecumenical, civic, and performing arts organizations and groups meet for the enrichment and wellbeing of those living in, working in, and/or visiting downtown Sacramento.

This vision statement can serve as a compass or as a nautical chart as we row toward the other shore. We are still in the middle of the lake but it is just as far to go back as it is to go forward.

Do we recognize the miracles happening in our midst, or have we like the residents of Jesus’ home town, become so familiar that all the history, all the details and all the hardships keep us from believing?

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians gives us insight how to work together “lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Together we will “no longer be tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by craftiness and deceitful scheming.” “But speaking the truth in love we must grow up…as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.”  Just as the disciples in that boat, in the middle of that sea, in the middle of the night, in the middle of the storm had to work together to keep from capsizing, we all need to use our individual strengths and gifts to reach the shore.

The disciples didn’t recognize the miracles as they experienced them. They were in trouble, without direction and struggling. They were sure Jesus was somewhere else—of praying and they expected to be left alone in that boat. So they were surprised, and amazed and utterly astounded when Jesus came to them in a seemingly impossible way.

Our lives, individually and as a church family will have times of frustration, anger, terror, pain, and suffering. Jesus never promised smooth sailing. What Jesus said to those first disciples but also says to the church today – GO ON AHEAD TO THE OTHER SIDE. Not just “go on ahead” but actually TO THE OTHER SIDE.  No one knows what wind or tempest will be encountered during the journey, but we are promised the presence of God who will never abandon his people.

Amen