Sermon- Father's Day 2009 Pentecost
3B St. Philips,
1 Sam. 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49; Ps. 9:9-20; 2 Cor. 6:1-13; Mk.
Opening Prayer – (Adapted from Discipleship Resources)
"From birth, O God, you have
made us a part of other people's lives. We're all in the boat together, sailing
through calm waters or tempest seas. Today we are especially aware of our
Fathers, both biological and not, those who share the helm with moms and others
who love us. These relationships with our fathers can be confusing,
challenging, and rewarding, sometimes all at the same time. Teach us your
intentions for all our relationships, especially with our fathers. Teach them
the calm and deliberate trust in Jesus, in your Spirit's guidance alone. Help
us all to have an "open heart, as Brother Paul prayed for the church of
his day, that we too may have faith that is productive and may more fully share
with you in the work of the Gospel as we head toward your kingdom's shore.
Amen."
Scripture Summaries:
Samuel - Story of David and Goliath; here gigantic Goliath,
who fights for the Philistines, mortal enemies of the Israelites, calls out and
challenges the Israelites to have someone fight for them - winner take all.
Saul is beside himself as to who will go for
Ps. - The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed in times of
trouble. He will never forsake those who put their trust in him.
2 Cor. - Now, declares Paul, is the acceptable time, the time
of Salvation, now is the time to work with Christ, to not accept God's grace in
vain. The servants of God have faced many trials and tribulations, achieving
opposite expectations of those who
contest with them. The people are urged to "open their hearts wide, as the disciples have, no longer holding
back or putting restrictions on how much they will give to God or that God can
do." The call is to “Grow up in
Christ” and accept the productivity of the Spirit to which they have been
called.
Mark - Again, Jesus and his disciples set out across the
Galilean sea to seek rest and renewal after much work ministering to the
crowds. In their several boats, a gale comes up as was often the case, and
threatens to swamp the boats. The disciples are afraid and frantically trying
to bale the waters out, and to their consternation find the Lord, asleep at the
helm of the boat. They waken him with cries and questions as to his concern(or
lack of it) for them and the situation. So they face fear #1 - We are perishing
- don't you care? Jesus then rebukes the wind and storm-heals it saying like a
demon, "Peace, Be Still!" Then they face fear #2 - Question arises -
Who is this man that even the wind and waves obey him? What have we gotten
ourselves into and with whom? Jesus, resting in God alone, calls them to trust
and have faith as he has done!
++++
So, today we find Jesus in a boat once again with his
disciples, and they are floundering, while he's taking a siesta. I'm reminded
of the “painting of peace” I've seen
where a bird sits serenely on a tree limb on a wind swept sea coast in a strong
storm. The bird is quiet and at peace while all about it is tossed and
troubled. Seems a very Buddhist image also! The disciples on the other hand, are like us, wanting and
expecting the captain of the ship to be wide awake and they're ready to ply him
with taunts and prayers to keep him awake. The storm is both without and within
for them, and us today!
This is an interesting image here of Jesus and the disciples
in a boat in that the Latin term for boat, by the way, is "Nave."
It's where we get the term Navy, and in the church, it's also where you all are
sitting, in the pew section. One of the earliest images of the church was of a
simple ship with cross shaped mast. So appropriately enough, we all are here in
the boat together - mothers, children,
aunts and uncles, cousins, friends and stranger, and of course, today
particularly, fathers, dads! And
Jesus, we believe and affirm, is in the boat with us. The boat, too, is a
microcosm of society and the church's struggles and it is also a promised
source of God's grace for healing and empowering.
Right now we do face a lot of trying, fearful times not
unlike the disciples situation. We fear that society and our boat may be
swamped and with some cause as we face wars, terrorism, poverty, disease,
financial challenges, changing relationships and institutions locally,
personally, nationally and globally, witness the tumult in Iran right now. But there is still mighty power in the Gospel
of Jesus, at the helm of our faith boat, and the world, and his promised
presence with us. This gospel is still good news to wayfaring sailors of faith,
as Harry Emerson Fosdick has said - for where "fear imprisons, faith liberates; where fear paralyzes,
faith empowers; where fear
disheartens, faith encourages; where
fear sickens, faith heals; where
fear makes useless, faith makes
serviceable." Jesus, the one who rests in God totally, calls us out of
fear into faith, and has the power to calm the storms both within and without.
In our challenging and fearful times with that call for faith
and trust in God's guidance, it might be helpful to know of a custom in the
British Royal Navy that I read about recently. When a time of great crisis
arises aboard ship on the high sea, the "still is blown." No not the one to make whiskey, but a whistle
is blown and a moment of silence is observed so that "quiet minds can collect
their thoughts and do the wise thing. " Those who've experienced this
tradition have remarked that it has often saved the day and made a great
difference in the outcome. Would that the disciples could have had such a
moment together - would that we could do so daily.
My own reality, and inclination, is to blow off steam, but in
a less calm, less productive manner and not unlike the disciples. More often
than not, I blame God and creation for my situation. As a son, and as a father,
and as a priest, I've experienced much joy and blessing as part of a family and
parish community in the boat together. But I've struggled and often failed to
present the non-anxious presence that Jesus does in today's gospel. My own
obstacle, fears, frustrations, energy limits, quick temper, and a lack of
mentoring have lead to much "on the job training" as a father and
husband and leader - often at others expense, I'm afraid. I would note here
that by fathering, I'm not limiting it to biological fathers, but to all those men
who father and help lead us and grow us in life. Thankfully, as with my own
father, I know I'm loved, have faithfully tried my best, and know that others
have fathered my family and faith community where I have fallen short or where
my gifts lacked. This is a common story for many fathers, I think!
Speaking of Fathers, I have a bit of a “Trinity Sunday
leftover” to share. At the
In a way, it's not unlike the experience with our fathers
when we think about it. If fathers don't or haven't really amounted to much to
us, or for us, then it doesn't really matter much, this Father's Day thing,
that is. For some, sadly, this has been a reality. But if fathering, like
mothering, is a divine gifting and calling, available in many forms and through
many people, with all the mixture of blessing and curses that such a human
reality can bring and stir up within us, then it matters greatly, and we need
to do more than pay lip service and one day homage to Good Old Dad, aka the
Ole' Man!
So as a church, we might ask- what is the church's role to be
in nurturing and mentoring fathers, as well as affirming them in our community
today? I'm was reminded of Robert Bly's story of Iron John, a classic book
in the Men's movement literature, when I read the story from Samuel of Papa
Saul desperately needing this young man’s gifts and leadership, yet burdening
down the young lad/warrior David, soon to be father of the nation. He tries
sending him to face Goliath, with all Saul's old armor and tricks of life, only
to find they are too limiting and heavy for the new realities faced by young
David as he must meet the challenges of the day. Still, it's a bit of testimony
to Papa Saul that he relented and allowed David to trim the sails and use the
gifts and skills he'd gained in life, with only Saul's blessing and prayers to
go with him. Later, Papa Saul, the father to David and Jonathan, has more
baggage to deal with.
So, my main points today are:
1. Jesus is the powerful and loving presence of the Father
with us in the boat of life and the ship of the church. From the nave, where we
sit, we again and again we, too, must come to grips with the question of
"Who is this man?" What do we make of Jesus today? How do we react to
his presence and power, asleep or awake at the helm?
2. Storms are a natural part of life and sailing. Storms are
not only potentially places of fear, failure, or floundering, but of grace and
manifestation of God's power in our lives. Someone has said, "We are made for
storms, particularly with Jesus at the helm." That is especially true of
the church and it's calling. There's a song quoted, in Roadrunner.com. by one
commentator, attributed to Sister Maria Teresa. It's called Joy is like the
Rain, A line of the song goes: "Christ asleep within my boat, whipped
by wind but still afloat, life is tried by storm." How are we viewing the
present storms we face with our ability in Christ, to meet them head on?
3. Lutheran Bishop Lyle Miller has said, " The church is
not a luxury liner, but a rescuing lifeboat, listing and leaking often, but
with potential to rescue and equip God's children, including Fathers, to help
Jesus steer the ship through gales and tempests, toward the horizon's
destination. How can we put this rescue boat to better use in our community
around us?
4. Finally, Who is
this man? is an important question, too, of our fathers in our day and
times. Perhaps you've noted President Obama's remarks of late on the importance
of recommitments being made by men to the role and calling of fathering. Jesus
was and is a role model of fathering worth talking about today. It's
instructive to note his own "Our Papa" prayer as a model for
fathering, and being fathered perhaps. There are also many good resources, such
as the website of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Service's
Well, I've said enough, now we need to pray. Happy Father's
Day to all to whom it applies. I'd like to close with a prayer by Safiyah
Fosua, co-editor of the resource books, The Africana Worship Book, Vol.1-3,
which
"Oh God, we thank you for fathers near, fathers with
strong arms.
And fathers with weak knees.
Present at table and at bathtub and at bedtime for prayers.
Thank you, God, for fathers near!
We thank you, O God, for fathers far away.
Fathers who ache for their families.
Fathers absent because of war, or disease, or despair –
fathers who are present and absent at
the same time.
Thank you, O God, for fathers far away.
We thank you, O God, for caring communities, where mothers
fill in for fathers and fathers fill in for mothers,
and grandparents put on the apron and the towel.
Where aunts and uncles, and those who are no kin at all,
make our communities a home. Fit for habitation. Amen. "