21-jun-09

Are You Prepared? The Rev. Joseph Winston June 21, 2009

Sermon Grace and peace are gifts for you from God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.1 Along the Texas Coast, there are storms that strike with such intensity that we still remember them to this day even though they have no name. One such storm struck during the night on September 15, 1875. A large hurricane landed about one hundred miles south of Galveston. It hit a major Gulf seaport named Indianola. This unnamed storm almost wiped this great city off the map and more than one hundred and fifty people lost their lives. Tragically for the inhabitants of Indianola, history was to repeat itself in less than eleven years. On August 19, 1886, the city of Indianola once again faced a major hurricane that had no name. However, this storm was much stronger than the last one. With a recorded barometric pressure of 925 millibars, this one was a record breaker. Even today, it 1

Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, 2 Thessalonians 1:2, Philemon 1:3

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is the fifth strongest storm on the books. Its estimated winds of one hundred and fifty-five miles per hour pounded the city and destroyed almost the entire town. In the hurricane’s aftermath, a fire began and finished what the storm started. Only two buildings survived the one-two punch. Because the hurricane hit during the day, the death toll was lower than the previous storm. About seventy-four people died in Indianola. Up the coast in Galveston, the hurricane capsized a forty-ton schooner. Further inland at Victoria, seventy-five houses where demolished and another one hundred and eighteen where damaged. Then there is the unnamed great 1900 storm that struck Galveston on September 8. The devastation brought by this hurricane is mind numbing. The storm struck the Island with estimated winds of one hundred and forty-five miles per hour. These unbelievably strong winds pushed a wall of water fifteen feet high over the top of Galveston. The winds and waves completely destroyed three thousand, six hundred houses. At least twenty percent of Island’s population died during the storm. The official statistics report the death of eight thousand people. Others guess that the number is closer to twelve thousand. The cost of this hurricane in today’s dollars is more than five hundred and sixteen million. Both of these facts make the unnamed 1900 hurricane the costliest storm in both deaths and dollars. Like the horrific storms of 1875 and 1886 that almost completely destroyed the Port of Indianola and the 1900 hurricane that battered Galveston, the storm found in today’s Gospel lesson has no name. Despite this fact, we continue to study what happened out on the “Sea” of Galilee some two thousand years ago. We have only a few facts about this storm and where it happened. Actually, we 2

have only three words in the original language that describe the gale (Mark 4:37).2 Taken together they imply that the boats ran into something like a waterspout on the lake.3 The other figure that we have is the size of the “Sea” of Galilee. It really is not a sea. It is a lake that measures about 64 square miles. For a comparison, this lake is about twice as large as Lake Conroe.4 The lesson tells us that the disciples were very concerned about their future.5 They ask Jesus, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? (Mark 4:38)” We know what happens next. Jesus, who was asleep, stands up in the stern of the boat (Mark 4:38-39).6 He calls out to the winds and the waves and says to them, “Peace! Be stilled (Mark 4:39).” The storm obeys Him and everything returns to a dead calm (Mark 4:39). Jesus then turns to the disciples who have been with Him since the beginning of His ministry and asks them two pointed questions, “Why are you afraid?” and “Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40) Tools used by pastors in sermon preparation devote many lines to the weather surrounding the Sea of Galilee. Without much trouble, one can easily find many pages of interpretation that aptly describe all the different issues surrounding the faith of the disciples at this point in their lives. In the same way, the technical literature is full of discussions that provide keen insight on the Lordship of Jesus 2

λαῖλαψ μεγάλη ἀνέμου John R. Donahue, S.J. and Daniel J. Harrington, S.J.; Idem, editor, The Gospel of Mark, Volume 2, Sacra Pagina, (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 2002), p. 158. 4 Lake Conroe is about 32 square miles in size. 5 Ibid. 6 The Greek for “He woke up.” (καὶ διεγερθεὶς) implies that Jesus stands completely up in the stern. Ibid.. 3

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over the winds and the waves. Each of these topics is worthy of discussion but all of these different subjects by the so-called experts miss a very important part of today’s Gospel lesson. They all leave out the simple request that Jesus gave the disciples, “Let us go across to the other side.” The command given by Jesus to cross the lake is actually more frightening than the storm they encounter on the way. Over on the other side of the lake is a strange world. They have different customs. They worship different gods. A righteous Jew cannot even get anything to eat. The Gospel according to St. Mark drives all these points home in the verses that immediately follow today’s Gospel lesson (Mark 5:1-20). As soon as the boat touches the other shore, they meet a very sick man. He is always cutting himself. His friends and family have attempted to help him but nothing has stopped this destructive behavior. They even tried chaining him down. That did not work either. He just broke loose. That is why he is living among the dead. No one else will have him. There in the cemetery, he sees Jesus leaving the boat and the sick man runs toward Him. You know what the disciples are thinking as they see this spectacle, “My mother told me that nothing good could come from a Gentile. I now can see that with my own eyes.” But when the sick man finally arrives near Jesus, he does something amazing. He falls flat on his face, as if he is worshiping Jesus. For the first time, the man speaks in a way that we can understand. Now, our worst fears are confirmed. He is possessed by many daemons. Jesus then does what no one else can do. He heals him. 4

That is why Jesus wants us to go across the lake. On every trip over there, He wants to show us that they are just like us. On the other side, people are sick. In places where we do not want to go, humans are hungry. In the dark corners of life, people are oppressed. All over the world, we all share a common attribute. We all desperately need Christ’s help. When we focus only on the storm, the actions by the crew, or the control of the winds and the waves by Jesus, we then leave out that Word Christ gave to us: go. And in doing so, we taking part of God’s power for ourselves. That is a story as old as creation. We want to be in control. If we trust that Jesus has the power to bring all the terrors that we experience on the sea of life then we must also believe that He sends us over to the other side. If we can chide the disciples for their lack of faith in the middle of their journey with Christ, then we too must be scolded for not going out into the world with Jesus. If we hold dear to the words of Scripture that God has authority over creation then certainly, then He definitely rules over us. One would normally hear the word of assurance that Christ remains with us during the storms of life. Obviously, this is true. We traditionally learn that Jesus brings us the peace that passes all understanding. Certainly, we believe this. Most importantly of all, Jesus comes to people who are just like us. We all need healing. We all are looking for the food and drink that truly satisfies. We all desire freedom from the powers of the world and from our own destructive acts. That is whom Jesus came to save. People like you and me and all those individuals outside the 5

four walls of this nave. This word nave, which we use to describe the interior of this building where you sit, has quite an interesting background. It comes to us from the Latin word navis and it literally means ship. You are sitting inside of a great ship whose sole purpose in life is to get us safely from one shore to the other. With its rich history of almost one hundred and fifty-eight years, First Lutheran has certainly done exactly that in the past. You have been here for generations of Christians. With the Spirit’s help, you have fed the hungry, healed the sick, struggled for justice, and visited those in prison. But just like all of us who live here on the Texas Coast, we all realize that is just a simple matter of time before another storm comes. Some day soon, the Gulf will once again have a hurricane threatening life and limb. Once the storm has passed, it too will be recorded in the history books and future generations will once again look back at what happened. Just as surely, Christ will command this ship to go out from its safe port into the stormy seas of life. Are you prepared? I firmly believe that you are. Every craft needs a crew and this ship, known as the church, is no different. Look around. You have the required hands that will take orders. They will give their all on this journey to the other side. God has blessed you with the right leaders. He has given you a unique mixture of old salts that know the way a large ship like this one handles under the pressures of a storm along with the new officers that are ready for such a challenge. What about this ship known as First Evangelical Lutheran? Is she ready to set sail at a moment’s notice? She seems almost shipshape to me. With all the 6

construction being done on her, could anyone think differently? Leaks have been stopped. Worn out items have been replaced. Paint has been applied. She can go to the other side. From today’s Gospel lesson it is clear that Jesus sails with His ship and crew across the lake. There is no question that Jesus is here with us. We all know that for a fact. Be ready for that order from your ship’s captain. It will not be long before Jesus tells you, “Let us go across to the other side.” “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”7

References Donahue, S.J., John R. and Harrington, S.J., Daniel J.; Idem, editor, The Gospel of Mark, Volume 2, Sacra Pagina, (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 2002).

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Philippians 4:7.

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