Trinity 10

Opening Verse of Scripture Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Collect Prayer for the Day—Before we read we pray

Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions make them to ask such things as shall please you; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Lord of heaven and earth, as Jesus taught his disciples to be persistent in prayer, give us patience and courage never to lose hope, but always to bring our prayers before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

First Bible Reading 1 Kings 19.9–18

At that place he 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. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘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.’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.’

Second Reading Romans 10.5–15

Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’ But the righteousness that comes from faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?” ’ (that is, to bring Christ down) ‘or “Who will descend into the abyss?” ’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart’
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’

Gospel Reading  Matthew 14.22–33

Immediately he 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 towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, 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 towards 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 worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’

Post Communion Prayer

God of our pilgrimage, you have willed that the gate of mercy should stand open for those who trust in you: look upon us with your favour that we who follow the path of your will may never wander from the way of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.     Amen

Commentary

Jesus has taken some time alone to go up to the hills by Himself to pray after the feeding of the 5000.  He sends the disciples ahead of him across the other side of the lake after He’s dismissed the crowd.  The disciples seem to have been on the lake all night and its now probably somewhere between 3:00 and 6:00 am.  As these experienced sailors struggle with the weather they look up and see none other than Jesus walking towards them.  They think it’s a ghost, some kind of spectre but Jesus calls to them and tells them not to be afraid.  (The words he uses are the ego eimi ‘I am’ words we’re more familiar with in John’s gospel.  Jesus is saying to them ‘The I Am’ is here with you.)  To those hearing the words they would be powerful words of revelation.  Recalling God’s words to Moses from the burning bush, ‘I am who I am’, Ex 3 v 14 and other places through the Old Testament they are words of declaration of divinity.  This is far more than a ‘Yoo-hoo, its only me’ calling out.  For even as Jesus is walking across the water it seems He is revealing more of who He is and His relationship with the Father.  The words He speaks and His actions of walking over the water area echoes of the words and actions of Genesis where God speaks into creation itself, the seas are named and stilled and brought under His control as the Spirit of God hovered over them.  Jesus does what God does in calming the waters and trampling them under His feet.  In the Old Testament the sea is often depicted as the primal image of all that is dark and menacing.  The Psalms speak of the Lord God who rules over the raging seas, e.g. Ps 65 v 8, and 89 v 9, 107 v 28 – 30, the Lord who rules over all creation.  Here, as Jesus walks on the water, He is doing the same, conquering the darkness, and the menacing and malign elements of the cosmos.

So with all that background going on, we might think it perhaps seems a bit harsh of Jesus to level the change of ‘lack of faith’ at Peter whilst he’s walking towards Jesus on the stormy waters of Lake Galilee and begins to flounder.  Things seem to have been going so well as Peter initially steps out of the boat and confidently marches across the water.  It’s only when he looks around things start to get off track.   Jesus speaks to him, His words often understood as words of rebuke.  And we can imagine Peter thinking: hang on a minute, it’s me that got out of the boat in the first place, none of the others did.  I don’t see anyone following me, I’m on my own here, a bit of positive support might be useful!  If anything, rather than rebuke and chastise Peter, it would seem his braveness at stepping onto the water in the first place should be admired.  Would you or I have done the same thing in the circumstances, or would we have stayed in the boat to see how the situation developed before committing ourselves to what seemed rather drastic and foolhardy actions in response to Jesus’ command of invitation?  But in hearing Jesus’ words as words of chastisement perhaps we are projecting our own insecurities on the exchange.  Do we, somewhat irrationally, expect that we will be challenged or criticised for things we say and do, rather than encouraged, thanked or praised for them?  Because Jesus’ words to Peter are not words of condemnation but words of encouragement so that Peter will be stronger in the future.  Nothing could be further from Jesus’ mind than humiliating Peter in from of the other disciples for his seeming ‘failure’.  The exchange culminates when they are all in the boat and the wind dies down.  Those in the boat did Him homage, worshipped Him and declared, ‘Truly you are the Son of God’.  They recognise that what Jesus has done, is what Yahweh was said to do in the Old Testament, the Jewish scriptures that are so pivotal in Matthew’s perspective.  God Himself is the one who treads and tramples the seas, Job 9 v 8 and Hab 3 v 15.  As we’re seen in the Psalms, He stills the storms that makes the waters rough.  He reaches out to rescue those who are drowning and in mortal danger, Ps 18 v 17, 144 v 7.  Matthew does not need to quote these scriptures to his hearers, they would be well known and the linkage between them and Jesus actions and words would be self-evident.  God is in control and Peter is invited to stand firm in his faith in the midst of his very real, and potentially life threatening, trial.  He calls out to Jesus and He answers, just as He answers us in the midst of the trials we sometimes go through.  Peter probably didn’t expect the response he got from Jesus when he cried out to Him.  We too sometimes don’t know or recognise how Christ responds to us, whatever situations we find ourselves in, or whatever the ways we call out to Him, sometimes very weakly or in sheer exasperation, but He hears and reacts.  He will never abandon us in our struggles, He is there with His hands outstretched towards us, ready to lift us up once more.

Rosalind Brown, in her commentary for these passages in her book covering the lectionary readings through the year, ‘Fresh from the Word’ proposes, “These stories tell us that God does not abandon us in our distress but meets us in totally unexpected ways.  For me, it can be summed up in the words of Prof Leander Keck, who taught me New Testament when I was training for ordination: God is reliable but never predictable.”

Sam Cappleman

Meditation

In both the gospel and the Old Testament passages set for today we read of encounters with God, which might broadly be termed ‘theophanies’, although some scholars use this terminology much more strictly.  The word theophany comes from the Greek words for God (theos) and to show (phainein), literally meaning in ancient Greek the appearance of a deity.  In both the readings it could be said that God appears, first to Elijah as he flees to Horeb after the fiery encounter with the prophets of Baal, and then to Peter and the other disciples in the boat as Jesus walks across the water to them, in such a specific and unique way that revealed Himself as the God of all creation.  A God who speaks and appears through the elements of the wind and weather, walking around on both the dry and watery surfaces of His cosmos, to gently declare words of enquiry (What are you doing here? Why do you doubt?) together with words of peace and calm into the very different moments of crisis and despair for Elijah and Peter.  Moments when they must have felt quite scared, helpless, fearful for life itself, and completely isolated and alone.  Isaiah 40 opens with the words, ‘Be comforted, be comforted my people, says your God’.   Words that God still speaks to us today in our moments of crisis, loneliness, and feelings of helplessness and distress.  A reminder that the God who is Lord of all creation and does not change is with us and alongside us, comforting and encouraging us in all things, until the end of time.

Sam Cappleman

Hymns

• Dear Lord and Father (Tune Repton)
• How lovely on the mountains
• Eternal Father (Tune Melita)
• O God of truth and justice - (Tune Thornbury)
• At the name of Jesus (Tune Camberwell) 
• See how great a flame aspires
• Give me joy in my heart
• Not far beyond the sea nor high
• Be still for the presence of the Lord.
• Who is on the Lord's side (Tune Rachie)

Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead

O God, whose glory the heavens are telling, the earth your power, the sea your might, and whose greatness all the hosts of heaven proclaim; to you belongs all glory, honour, majesty and praise; both now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen Liturgy of St James, 5th century

Living God, you have placed in the hearts of your children a longing for your word and a hunger for your truth. Grant that, believing in the One who you have sent, we may know him to be the true bread of heaven, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Cleanse our minds, O Lord we beseech thee, of all anxious thoughts for ourselves, that we may learn not to trust in the abundance of what we have, save as tokens of thy goodness and grace, but that we may commit ourselves in faith to thy keeping, and devote all our energy of soul, mind and body to the work of thy kingdom and the furthering of the purpose of thy divine righteousness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Euchologium Anglicanum

God our Father, we read of the commandment "do not kill" and think it doesn't apply to us because we don't take anyone's life. Yet there are times when we take life from others by cruel words, sarcasm, doing people down, and gossiping. Lead us to choose to bring life to others - and not death. Inspire us to break the cycle of whatever is negative or violent or evil whenever we encounter them. Let us not look for vengeance - to get our own back -but lead us to be generous and ready to conquer evil with goodness. Amen. 

O God, you declare your almighty power most chiefly in showing mercy and pity: mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace, that we, running the way of your commandments, may receive your gracious promises, and be made partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Additional Material

The story of Jesus walking on the water follows the story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand. The two episodes make obvious an important lesson for the disciples and for us. When faced with enormous difficulties we are tempted to think that all is lost and we cannot cope. It is exactly at that time that we must realise that we do not have to cope on our own. However Jesus is with us and even the most desperate situations are changed when we place our trust in him. 

Matthew wrote at a time when Christians were persecuted, the Apostle Peter has most likely been crucified. The episode of the storm addressed issues of danger, fear and faith. The boat seems to represent the church, buffeted by temptations, trials and persecutions. Jesus however is the church's champion, who is strong to save those who call on him in faith. The message must have brought great comfort to the early Christians. While not spared suffering and death, they were confident that Christ would save them even if they were to die.

It is important to remember that the disciples encounter the storm, not because they are rebellious or foolhardy, rather because they are obedient. The difficulties that they experience on the sea are not of their own making, but stem from their compliance with Jesus' command. The disciples find themselves perhaps three miles out in the small boat, far from shore, in a storm. In Biblical literature, the sea is often represented as the abode of demonic forces hostile to God. In the Apocalypse, the final reign of God will mean that the sea no longer exists (21:1) To have command over the sea shows God’s triumph over evil. Jesus comes walking toward the disciples on the sea. Matthew has identified Jesus as Emmanuel -- God with us (1:23) -- and this story reinforces that role. 

Matthew's church is weathering a storm of persecution. These Christians are not in rebellion, but are faithfully serving God. The story of the disciples on the sea, therefore, mirrors exactly the situation of Matthew's church. It holds a promise that Jesus comes to Christians in the midst of the storm -- that the storm does not hold the upper hand -- that Christ is present with us in the storm and redeems us from the storm.

When the disciples see Jesus, they are afraid. The storm, while dangerous, is familiar. The disciples know what to expect from a storm and what to do to keep the boat afloat. They do not know anything about men walking on water far from land, and fear that they are seeing a ghost. Jesus responds with a threefold statement:

"Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Jesus uses the first phrase, "Take heart" (Greek: tharseite -- have courage -- be of good cheer) elsewhere in this Gospel to hearten a paralytic (9:2) and a woman with a hemorrhage (9:22). It is not a rebuke but an encouragement.

The second phrase, "it is I" (Greek: ego eimi -- literally "I am") is God's name (Exod 3:14). 

The third phrase, Do not be afraid  is used in this Gospel when an angel uses the third phrase, "do not be afraid" to reassure Joseph (1:20) and the women at the empty tomb (28:5, 10). Jesus uses it to reassure the Twelve as they go on their mission (10:26, 28, 31) and the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration (17:7). Again, it is an encouragement rather than a rebuke.

This story reassures Matthew's church that, even in the midst of persecution, they need not fear -- Jesus is present with them. It offers the same reassurance to us in times of illness, death, persecution, or other troubles. It prepares us for times when things are going badly -- or well. Adversity is not a sign of God's displeasure or prosperity a sign of God's pleasure. Wealth does not equate to God's favour or poverty lack of it. Illness is not a sign of inadequate faith or health a sign of great faith. Jesus says that God "makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (5:45). Paradoxically, the storms of life can be a means of blessing. When things are going badly, our hearts are more receptive to Jesus. A broken heart is often a door through which Christ can find entry. He still comes to us in the midst of our troubles, saying, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."

Meditation

After just defeating 450 prophets of Baal, it is very embarrassing that God’s best prophet Elijah is now hiding in a cave afraid of the murderous enemy King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.  An angel has guided Elijah to Sinai (Mt. Horeb), the same mountain where Moses met the Almighty. 

At this moment of crisis God comes to Elijah but not with power and a convincing display, rather in a still small voice. Not very exciting, but isn’t that what life is like? We too look for God at times of crisis, personal and communal. Where is God amid the chaos of the world? Are we not entitled to hear something of the divine road, rather than a whisper? Yet we who live by faith know that whilst God is imperceptible, yet he is present with us. Elijah will have to call the people back to fidelity to God and the covenant; to a faith not based on spectacles and signs of power, but on a relationship of love and trust in God. 

When people demanded signs of power from Christ, like storm, fire, wind and earthquake, he refused to give them. Instead, he invited people to trust in him even without instant relief and spectacle. Elijah got the message, he set out on his difficult journey trusting God would support him and not abandon him in his coming trials. As he went forward he would have to continue to listen to the still voice of God within—just as all faithful people must. When we find ourselves withdrawing to a cave of fear, defeat, discouragement or despair, we might draw the conclusion that we are all alone in our struggle. Or, we can make the impossible leap of faith that says, “I believe God is with me, even in the sound of silence.” It turns out, Elijah’s fearful flight away from Ahab and Jezebel has set him back on the path to absolute dependence on God. God has not abandoned him after all. God did not given up on Elijah; Elijah did not give up on God, this is a lesson for us all. Charles Royden