Good Friday Morning Children of God!I am sending Sunday’s message a day earlier since there was no Wednesday Message this week and in order to put a little more time in between the written message and the recorded Sunday service. I hope that you have a wonderful day.Here is Sunday’s Message:
August 9, 2020
10th Sunday after Pentecost
Prayer of the Day
O God our defender, storms rage around and within us and cause us to be afraid. Rescue your people from despair, deliver your sons and daughters from fear, and preserve us in the faith of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
First Reading 1 Kings 19:9-18
Psalm 85:8-13
Second Reading Romans 10:5-15
Gospel Matthew 14:22-33
Grace to you and peace, from God our Father and the Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.
“WIGIAT” stands for a question that people somewhere in the world ask every day: “Where Is God In All of This?” It is an important question to ask. It is even more important to listen for and trust in God’s response.
“WIGIAT?” might have been on Elijah’s mind when his life was threatened and he fled to Mount Horeb. Possibly Peter had a similar thought as he and his fellow disciples were being battered by wind and waves on the Sea of Galilee. And just maybe this is a question that you fuss with periodically. The year 2020 has been a good one for prompting people to ask God “Where are you in all of this? Are you in or are you out?”
Elijah learned that in his time of trouble God was “in.” But before experiencing the presence of God in sheer silence, he noticed the absence of God in the wind, earthquake, and fire. God was not in the noisy, powerful displays of nature but instead was found in silence. It was in that setting that Elijah heard the comforting voice of God.
Elijah possessed what St. Paul calls “the righteousness that comes from faith.” (Romans 10:6) It is evident in the person who experiences the spiritual reality that “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart.” (Romans 10:8) The “word” is from God and it makes “Faithfulness spring up from the earth.” (Psalm 85:11)
The word from God is not found in great displays of power and bombast. Instead, it is abiding in the silence of your heart. It is a word that is spoken in your time of trouble and doubt. It is a word that pierces the noise of the world in order to find a home in your soul. It is a word of steadfast love and pure goodness. It calms our storms and soothes our fears. It is the word about Jesus.
When Jesus died on the cross, the earth shook to the point of splitting rocks but the true power of God and the word from God hung on a tree in a deafening silence. From that place of sheer stillness, through the crucified Jesus, God spoke to the world assuring everyone of God’s love, forgiveness, and salvation.
After Jesus rose from the dead an angel-induced earthquake rolled back the stone covering the tomb but the true power of God and the word from God was residing in the resurrected Jesus. In the quiet of the place of the dead, just yards from the cross, God reached out to a humanity sinking in a sea of death and caught us.
Whenever you find yourself asking “Where is God in all of this?” rest assured that God is near. Christ is on the cross in the very midst of all human conflagration and tragedy. Jesus who died and is risen from the dead stands at the side of all who are confronted with death ready to receive them into life. In the silence of Calvary resides the power of God to overcome a raucous, vicious, and violent world and to give peace to her inhabitants. The word of this Gospel is near you. It has been planted in your heart.
As much as we would like to resemble Elijah it is difficult to escape being like Peter. When he attempted to walk on the storm-tossed Sea of Galilee in response to the Lord’s invitation, instead of being buoyed by the righteousness that comes from faith he was besieged by the sinking feeling that comes from doubt. It is true that we begin to sink when we focus on the strong winds of adversity that confront us in life such that we take our eyes off of Jesus. But even for those of us who are “of little faith” Jesus remains near. (God be praised!) The Son of God is always within saving distance, reaching out and catching us when the sea of doubt threatens to engulf us. When Jesus saved Peter on the Sea of Galilee the WIGIAT question was answered. Jesus was in the storm with Peter, rescuing him from danger. He is with us, despairing doubters that we are, in our time of trouble too.
Where is God in all of this mess of a world? God is in the midst of it all, suffering with us, speaking to us, strengthening us, and leading us through his Messiah, Jesus. When Jesus was transfigured on the mountain top, the Father commanded Peter, James, and John to “Listen to him!” Psalm 85:8-9 declares the correct response:
“I will listen to what the Lord God is saying; for you speak peace to your faithful people and to those who turn their hearts to you. Truly, your salvation is very near to those who fear you, that your glory may dwell in our land.”
In listening to the Lord in the silence, Elijah received encouragement and direction. God had work for him to do. There was to be a life after his time of upheaval. The same thing held true for the disciples. Their experience of Jesus in the storm and the miraculous calm that followed caused them to worship him and confess, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:33) It became their mission to proclaim that message to others. Like Elijah, they had work to do.
One thing to glean from today’s readings is that when confronted by disruptions in life, expect the Lord to be present and listen to him as he speaks to your heart. His sweet voice is the genesis of faith and peace. And rest assured that an assignment of some kind awaits. What is it that Jesus is asking you to do for him? For Elijah and the disciples their assignment included doing something new that would further the purposes of God.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Sometimes we have to be content with God knowing the plans even when we don’t. In such times, create space in your life to be with the Lord in the silence and listen to him. As you wait and listen please know that he will not harm you, rather he will uphold you and give you hope and peace.
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19) Due to all of the disruption this year has brought, I cannot help but believe that God is doing a new thing that involves making a way for more people to be drawn to Jesus. Each of us has a role of some kind to play in God’s plan. In God’s own way and time, the specifics will be made clear. In the meantime, trust that God is “in.” Listen for his word and prepare to respond. Amen.
Listen, God is Calling (Tanzanian traditional; tr. Howard S. Olson)
Refrain Listen, listen, God is calling, through the Word inviting, offering forgiveness, comfort, and joy.
Jesus gave his mandate: share the good news that he came to save us and set us free. Refrain
Let none be forgotten throughout the world. In the triune name of God go and baptize. Refrain
Help us to be faithful, standing steadfast, walking in your precepts, led by your Word. Refrain
Peace and blessings,
Pastor Bill