Peace; Be still.

4th Sunday After Pentecost

Today's Readings: 2 Cor. 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41

Grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Friends, whatever figurative storm you currently find yourself in, hear these words of Christ Jesus, our Savior and Lord: “Peace. Be still.” This word of grace comes to us this day and everyday from God who not only created the winds and the waves, but can call them to stillness. Be still, child of God; the hands that created the world are also holding your heart. Peace is yours.

This morning we hear Jesus telling both the disciples, the waves, and the raging sky to be still. Or more literally, Jesus REBUKES the wind and the sea. This word rebuke is the same one we heard Mark use before this when Jesus rebuked some unclean spirits. Now it doesn’t really matter whether we believe the unclean spirits to be the devil or demons or maybe what we could call today a medical condition - what matters is the display of power we see in these stories of Christ Jesus.

The greatest display of power, we know, is hidden in the cross of Christ. What looked like weakness, like defeat, like the end of a revolution that never quite got off it’s feet.. was actually the greatest act of power the world has ever known. In the cross, God shows the world the power of love without limits, of salvation beyond king or pharaoh, of victory over death, sin and evil. When Jesus rebukes the unclean spirits and the waves that threaten to crush the disciples, he is showing them (showing us) that he has already defeated the death dealing things of this life.

Are there still storms? Obviously. Do people still get sick and struggle mentally and physically? Unfortunately, yes. Is sin, evil, suffering and death still realities of our life on earth? Clearly. Yet in the midst of it all we hear the words of our Savior and Lord cry out, ‘Peace. Be still.’

Just this past Thursday we remembered the tragedy that struck Mother Emanuel in Charleston in 2015. The act of violence that took the lives of 9 of God’s children is one that we continue to mourn and grieve. And it is one that opens our eyes to this nation’s problems of gun violence and racism. But it is also a story of amazing witness to the God who calls for peace and has conquered death. This congregation opened it’s doors to all who wished to join them in bible study on Wednesday evenings.. and although the unthinkable happened, to this day their sign outside their building advertises Sunday worship and Wednesday bible study.

This is a witness that not only speaks the words of truth about WHO God is – the one who rebukes the sea and sky, the one who rebukes all that seeks to destroy life – but brings those words to life; puts those words into action. Mother Emanuel, like many of the Black churches of this nation past and presence, witness to the gospel not only with word but action. The words we heard from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians this morning are not just letters on a page. Many of us know - especially our BIPOC siblings know - all to well “afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger, dishonor, punishment, sorrow, poverty” and all the obstacles that can get in life’s way (v. 4-10). And yet, we also know the strength of the Lord who conquered death and set us free for lives of abundance and love. And so we, like Paul, have endurance and resilience and continue to open our hearts wide to the world, with the innocence of a child (v. 13).

I am constantly amazed, humbled, and blown away by the witness of the Black church in America. I am in awe of Mother Emanuel who can come face to face with death and fear, look it dead in the eyes, and proclaim God’s victory over death. This is the gospel alive and at work. This is the peace, the stillness that Jesus proclaims in that boat to the disciples. Having Jesus near didn’t mean the storm wouldn’t get to them – it did. But having God – Jesus – Emmanuel, God with us – I their life meant that they had nothing to fear; not the storm, wind or waves.. not even death itself.

Friends, whatever figurative storm you currently find yourself in, hear these words of Christ Jesus, our Savior and Lord: “Peace. Be still.” This word of grace comes to us this day and everyday from God who not only created the winds and the waves, but can call them to stillness. Be still, child of God; the hands that created the world are also holding your heart. Peace is yours. Amen.

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