Who is this, that even wind and sea obey Him?

 

Great Scripture this morning, really good stuff, all in the Bulletin, I hope you read it. In “covid liturgy” we've been reading only one bible lesson, plus the gospel - - Tradition is that if we celebrate Holy Communion we have a gospel reading. But just because worship is cut short, that’s no reason you can’t read and enjoy all of it yourself.

Our good old Sunday School bible story for today is from First Samuel 17, David as a shepherd boy when he first comes to the attention of king Saul. Young, cocky, full of himself, David slays Goliath and is instantly  a hero of Israel. Saul’s son Jonathan is spellbound by David, and they become inseparable. King Saul makes David a leader of armies, field marshal, generalissimo at, what?, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen? In time, David is so admired by the people that Saul jealously turns against him. As king, Saul is incompetent, the pressure too great, he’s losing it. 

Just as there are two different Creation Stories and two different Flood Stories in the Bible, there are two different Saul and David stories and viewpoints: one day in Sunday School class we might read all this wonderful stuff and sort them out, it’s better than any modern book you’ll ever pick up!

The Second Corinthians reading is important soteriology, meaning "from a salvation point of view", because Paul declares that this is the day of salvation, this is the Time. Which ties in to Father Steve’s sermon last week when he said we do not have to wait, the kingdom of God is here and now. The kingdom of God is all around you, wake up and step into it.

One of my favorite verses is in the apocryphal Gospel of Thomas, the disciples ask Jesus "When will the kingdom come?" And Jesus says “People will not say ‘Look! Here it is’, or ‘Look! There it is’, for the kingdom of the Father is spread upon the earth and people do not see it”. That Greek word for “see” is idosin from its root word horaw, which means perceive, realize, understand, comprehend, see with the mind’s eye, grasp with the heart, see in a spiritual sense of discernment. So look around and step into the kingdom, where God is Father and Jesus is Lord and the Holy Spirit fills your life. Enjoy your gift of life, this is what you get, live and love, step into the kingdom, this is your day of salvation.

And now this good old sea story from Mark. Everyone in our adult Sunday School class knows what’s going on here. Mark - - my favorite evangelist, because even if his grammar is rough, he’s the gifted story teller - - Mark has a clever agenda for stirring frustration in his readers, his audience, (that’s you and me), rousting us up and out to proclaim Jesus Christ. Just so, in today’s story, the disciples in the boat cannot “SEE” who Jesus is. Indeed, all through Mark’s gospel none of the good guys realize who Jesus is. Jesus Christ the Son of God in the midst of them, and they don’t recognize him and his authority. 

It keeps happening: in our story today, the disciples are out in the boat with Jesus. A storm comes up, he calms the storm, and they say “OMG, who IS this that even wind and obey him?” Well jeepers, it’s quite obvious who he is, are they too close to him to see, don’t they get it? This is the entire plot of Mark’s gospel. And - - -

- - NO, they DON’T get it, they don’t GET it, THEY DO NOT GET IT, salvation is at hand, the kingdom, a gift of the Son of God, and they do not get it. Earnest young men, adolescents, enthusiastic teenage boys, yes, teenagers!, idealistic, youthful fishermen who have left everything to follow Jesus they have no idea where! He’s unique, they’re captivated by his presence, his compelling personality, and are following as disciples, but they have no idea what Jesus is about, or where he’s leading them - - or sending them!

So, what’s Mark’s point? His subtle point, masterfully laid on, is that while nobody in the story knows, the reader knows, YOU know, and Mark wants you to be so astonished and frustrated that these young fellows don’t get it, that YOU will do what Jesus wants THEM to do. And what is that? 

To proclaim the kingdom of God. To realize that you are “saved” (this morning he saves them from perishing in a storm at sea); to know that your sins are forgiven, set aside, not obstacles to God’s love, you are free; to know that this is your day of salvation: you are called into the kingdom of God to live and love as Jesus himself lives and loves, because that’s what the kingdom is all about: love God, love neighbor. 

Will you seek and serve Jesus in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

Of course you will, you already are and do. This is the kingdom of God, Jesus is here: your call as a Christian is to invite and welcome others into the kingdom with us.

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Sermon/homiletic endeavor in Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, Panama City, Florida, Sunday, June 20, 2021, Proper 7B, the Rev Tom Weller (Retired), Priest Associate of the Parish.

The Lessons

A Reading from 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 10-16

On David’s return from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand. Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”

When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved.

The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand; and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the army. David had success in all his undertakings; for the LORD was with him. When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David; for it was he who marched out and came in leading them.

Psalm 133 Ecce, quam bonum!

1 Oh, how good and pleasant it is, *
when brethren live together in unity!

2 It is like fine oil upon the head * that runs down upon the beard,

3 Upon the beard of Aaron, *
and runs down upon the collar of his robe.

4 It is like the dew of Hermon *
that falls upon the hills of Zion.

5 For there the LORD has ordained the blessing: * life for evermore.

A Reading from 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

As we work together with Christ, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says,

“At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”

See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see-- we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. In return-- I speak as to children-- open wide your hearts also. 

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark (4:35-41)

When evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” .

The Sermon     the Reverend Tom Weller