Today's readings bring the probably familiar 'Jesus walking on water' into contact with the beginning of the story of Joseph and his brothers (as they sell him into captivity and pack him off to Egypt) and both fit nicely with the Romans, 'He who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' This promise is often clung on to, especially in times of conflict and in those times when we realised that we are in peril and this is (for me at least) an area where I can find myself struggle.
But let's look at the Gospel story as a starting point for today:
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.’
One of the key elements for me here lies in the fact that it is in the moment that Simon Peter takes his eyes off Jesus that he begins to sink. Jesus tells him to come and, being Peter, he does - and he's doing something that defies nature and science as he walks on the water - but his faith and his feet begin to sink as he realises what he's doing and become taken up with the fear that swaps Jesus with drowning as his focus.
There have been so many times in my life when I have been doing stuff and someone, not always me, takes their eyes off of the Lord and what was going on is replaced by them (and us) becoming impotent and frozen. This is true regardless of the situation and I've seen it in times where (moral and/or physical) courage has dribble away and that which started out in faith is replaced by fear - with often awful results. I've seen people who have lost a loved one and this has caused them to look at their pain, to ask why when the person who died was a Christian that they died, and to sink below the waves of self-pity, anger and disbelief.
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!’
In the Gospel reading (Matthew) we found an extremely helpful hint:
Don't take your eyes off Jesus!
And now, from the Romans, we find a promise and a call to do something:
The promise: 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved'.
The call: '(Confess) Tell others of God's salvation found, won and lived in, Jesus!'
The promise is seen in action in the Peter story and in the way that Joseph survives and goes off to Egypt to make his dreams reality in ways he wouldn't have thought possible as he is betrayed by those closest to him. This is a promise I am sure many in Iraq are reminding God of as wicked men take their homes, possessions and lives and one that causes many to ask that ageless question, 'Where is your God?'
This is an experience we have all had - that moment when we cry out in pain, fear and unbelief, 'Where are you God?' It is a question we cannot dodge because it is a real question and one that has problems because if God can act but doesn't then He is a wicked or uncaring God!
OR
If God is unable to act then He might well be a caring and loving God - but He is impotent and useless!
Many years ago, a wonderful lady (Hilary) came to faith and decided to start reading the Bible from cover to cover (always a disaster in my experience) and after a few days came back and said, 'I know why God doesn't do stuff and stop the wicked and the wars and everything!' This stopped me in my tracks and so I encouraged her (not a little fearful at what was to come) to continue.
'When the flood happened God said He would never take matters into His own hands again. He said he'd tell us what was right, send us people to do it and give us pointers, but He wouldn't meddle and act directly. No matter how hard it is - God keeps His promise - He tells us and we have to make it happen!'
You know what, I think she had something. But let's put an additional thought into the mix (for I need us to work it out rather than merely be told):
People often tell me that 'God should put paedophiles to death. He should just zap them!' To this statement I usually ask whether this means he should also kill murderers, child abusers and . . . ? As the list continues we eventually get to the place where we are left with the question, 'So should God just act and remove from being ALL who break the law?"
The answer is usually 'Yes'. So then I ask whether they've ever done anything wrong (like speeding) and of course the answer is another 'Yes'. To which I tell them that God would have to remove us too - something which results in the response 'but EVERYONE does that!'
Now God is constant and He either takes His hands off direct action or acts directly against all who cross the line. Thankfully Hilary had it right - He stands back and calls us (moral and faithful people) to take the action ourselves.
Looking at Iraq, Gaza and other places leave me wondering how we might answer the question, Hey you down there. How you getting on?'
So let's be the difference, praying, paying, loving, acting rightly and telling people where peace is to be found: In Jesus :-)
Father - we pray for peace, mercy, justice and love to be found in this world.
Help us to be the people who are called the peacemakers.
Help us to keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus lest we sing beneath the waves of life.
Help us to find the blessing and live faithfully when those closest to us wound and betray us.
Help us tell others of your love. Amen.
Genesis 37.1-4,12-28
Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of Canaan.
This is the story of the family of Jacob.
Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.
Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, ‘Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.’
He answered, ‘Here I am.’ So he said to him, ‘Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to me.’ So he sent him from the valley of Hebron. He came to Shechem, and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, ‘What are you seeking?’
‘I am seeking my brothers,’ he said; ‘tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.’
The man said, ‘They have gone away, for I heard them say, “Let us go to Dothan.” ’
So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.’
But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, ‘Let us not take his life.’ Reuben said to them, ‘Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him’ - that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, ‘What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.’
And his brothers agreed. When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
The Collect
Lord God,
your Son left the riches of heaven
and became poor for our sake:
when we prosper save us from pride,
when we are needy save us from despair,
that we may trust in you alone;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 105.1-6,16-22,45b
O give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises, and tell of all his marvellous works. Rejoice in the praise of his holy name; let the hearts of them rejoice who seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face continually. Remember the marvels he has done, his wonders and the judgements of his mouth, O seed of Abraham his servant, O children of Jacob his chosen.
Then he called down famine over the land and broke every staff of bread. But he had sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They shackled his feet with fetters; his neck was ringed with iron. Until all he foretold came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.
The king sent and released him; the ruler of peoples set him free. He appointed him lord of his household and ruler of all he possessed, to instruct his princes as he willed and to teach his counsellors wisdom. That they might keep his statutes and faithfully observe his laws.
Alleluia.
Post Communion Prayer
Strengthen for service, Lord, the hands that have taken holy things;
may the ears which have heard your word be deaf to clamour and dispute;
may the tongues which have sung your praise be free from deceit;
may the eyes which have seen the tokens of your love shine with the light of hope;
and may the bodies which have been fed with your body be refreshed with the fullness of your life;
glory to you for ever. Amen.
