Fear of Going Down With the Ship
- davidwperk
- Jul 28, 2021
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Proper 12, the week of the ninth Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Phrase for reflection from today’s reading:
51Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
Today we celebrate the Feast of Johann Sebastian Bach. (See below.)
Daily Office Lectionary readings
AM Psalm 72; PM Psalm 119:73-96
2 Samuel 3:22-39; Acts 16:16-24; Mark 6:47-56
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Office Gospel, Mark 6:47-56
47 When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. 49But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; 50for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ 51Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
David's Reflections
The Spanish twentieth century poet, Antonio Machado once said:
"One has to keep the eyes well open in order to see things as they are, and still more open to see them as other than they are, and open them still more widely in order to see things as better than they are." *
The disciples evidently did not have their eyes open, because Mark the evangelist observed that they had not understood the significance of the feeding of the 5,000. They had seen things as they were by observing and sharing in the miracle. But, they had not seen things as other than they were. They had not seen beneath the miracle to the identity of Jesus. This may explain, at least in part, why they were shocked and amazed at his coming to them on the water and stilling the storm. (Although that would be shocking to someone with their eyes fully open.)
All three were nature miracles--Jesus exerting influence over the elements. Had they grasped his relationship to the natural world in the feeding, they would have more easily seen it in the other two miracles--seeing things as other than they were. Yesterday, we discussed the relationship of seeing others to compassion for others. Today, it is the relationship between seeing God's activity and presence even beneath and within the dark stormy moments and responding by faith.
Do we allow the context external to us to determine our vision? Are the circumstances and the visible forces at work all that we see? If we have our eyes wide open, Jesus will be at least a bit less surprising to us out of the darkness of the storm. We will see things as other than they are and as better than they are.
The key is to look beyond the waves, the winds, and the fear of sinking. The key is to look into the darkness knowing that Jesus draws near and that he will act in surprising ways, either to deliver us from the storm or to sustain us through it. After all, he is in the boat with us, and whatever happnes to us happens to him, too. The storm does not determine our reality; rather, the lurking, loving presence of Jesus determines our reality. We trust in him, which prevents the winds and the waves from controlling us with fear even as they toss us about.
Another piece of Machado's poetry came to mind in this connection.
Mankind owns four things
That are no good at sea--
Rudder, anchor, oars,
And the fear of going down. +
* Antonio Machado, Times Alone: Selected Poems of Antonio Machado, trans. Robert Bly (Hanover, NH: Wesleyan UP, 1983), p. 77.
+ Antonio Machado, from "Fourteen Poems," in Times Alone, trans. Robert Bly (Wesleyan UP, 1983), p. 113.
The Collect of the Day, Proper 12, the ninth Sunday after Pentecost
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 231)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Johann Sebastian Bach, composer (died 28 March 1750 CE)
Collect of the Feast of Johann Sebastian Bach.
Sound out your majesty, O God, and call us to your work; that, like thy servant Johann Sebastian Bach, we might present our lives and our works to your glory alone; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever Amen.
A Collect for Guidance
O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP 100)
For those we Love
Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to your never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that you are doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 831)
In the Evening
O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen. (BCP, 833)
A Collect for Mission
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)
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