From the locum
The Gospel passage from the 4th chapter of Mark which is the reading for today describes Jesus’ ability to still the storms of life. The disciples panic when a sudden windstorm rocks their boat, filling their craft with water. In their fear, they call upon Jesus, whose calm voice stills the storm. There are two storms described in this miracle story – the first is the storm at sea, the external realities that put us at risk.
For many congregations, the storm at sea involves budget and membership. We fear what will happen to us; we wonder if our congregation will survive the changes in the current spiritual landscape and its own aging demographics. The second storm is the inner tumult, the fear and anxiety within each of us and our institutions.
A fishing prayer goes, “The sea is so wide and my boat is so small.” Dwarfed by the grandeur of the universe and the challenges that confront us, we appear to be powerless. We are uncertain if our lives matter or if the universe cares for us. An alternative version gives us another perspective, “O God, your sea is so large and my boat is so small.” The sea is God’s sea, not an indifferent force, and God’s sea ultimately will bring us homeward with waves of healing. Blessings, Fr Michael