A sermon preached at Kowloon
Union Church on Sunday 9 August
2020, the tenth Sunday after Pentecost, by the Rev. Phyllis Wong.
The scripture readings that day were Genesis 37:1–4,
12–28; Psalm 105:1–6,
16–22, 45b; Matthew 14:22–33.
Last Thursday, the Faculty of Medicine of Hong Kong
University released a survey conducted from February to July this year on post-traumatic
experiences in Hong Kong. 11,000 people responded in the questionnaires and over
74% of the respondents shared that they suffered medium to severe levels of
stress, and over 36% displayed medium to severe symptoms of post-traumatic
stress and depression.
From conversations with friends of different
backgrounds, from news in Hong Kong and from around the world, I find that many
people are living in a storm of various kinds. Some are facing health
challenges due to infection of the coronavirus and cancers. Some are suffering
from loss of jobs. Some are struggling with decision of emigration due to the
unstable political situation in Hong Kong. Many people are concerned about how
much their freedom of speech and assembly will be reduced by the HK National
Security Law. People young and old are worrying and wondering when the COVID-19
will end so lives would be back to normal again. Are you or any of your family
members and friends facing dangers or difficulties like living in a storm?
The Gospel account from Matthew is talking about
Jesus and his disciples at the stormy sea and how Jesus restored calmness for
them. We may not literally encounter a storm at the sea like the disciples. And
yet, for those who are facing storms in their life situations that disturbed
their hearts, the Gospel story today is timely as the Word of God is able to
comfort and inspire us in this very extra-ordinary time in the world. I will focus my sermon on the Gospel reading
of Matthew this morning.
Don’t be afraid:
recognize Jesus’ voice
When we are facing dangers and threats that may
take away what we deem valuable: be it a job, a relationship, health, even our
own life, we may be worried and afraid.
According to the Gospel account of Matthew we
heard this morning, Jesus went to the mountain alone and prayed to God after a
long day of service to heal the sick and to feed the hungry. After he finished,
he went to find his disciples. He was aware of the strong wind and the boat was
away from the shore at that time. He walked on the water towards his disciples
who were on the boat. His disciples were terrified by Jesus’ appearance as they
didn’t recognize him. They thought he was a ghost.
Like the disciples, when we are overwhelmed by
darkness, we may not be able to see God and may even mistake him as an evil
spirit. Jesus appeared before his disciples when they were facing danger and
threats. Jesus never leaves his beloved disciples and desperate people alone. Whenever there is storm, Jesus is there. He is
always on site. I believe that he will not opt to work from home even in the
face of the threat of COVID-19. We see that he was the one taking the
initiative to walk to his disciples who were in trouble. Perhaps it is only we
who are not able to recognize him.
When Jesus realized that his disciples could not
recognize him, he immediately showed his identity. He said to them “Take heart,
it is me!” Not only that, he comforted them by saying “Don’t be afraid”. Jesus
was very kind and compassionate. He knew the need of his disciples and fully
embraced them at that very moment.
‘Don’t be afraid’ is a very comforting and
powerful statement issued by someone you know and trust. I remembered the day my daughter was born. On
that day, typhoon no. 8 was hoisted. My husband Tong did not go to work and we
were having lunch at home. All of a sudden, I felt water breaking and I
realized that my baby was ready to come. I was very afraid and I did not know
what to do. Both Tong and I had no experience at all on this. Luckily my mother
was with us, taking care of me. By seeing how fearful I was, she said with a
calm voice, “Don’t be afraid”. These three words coming from the mouth of my
mother was so comforting and soothing. Immediately I felt very calm and
peaceful. My mother was like the presence of Jesus, giving me great
assurance. So in a storm, let us be
alert to hear the voice from God through people around us. Similarly, we may be
used by God to offer this assurance and peace to people who are in need, like
what my mother did to me. When we are in a storm, let us recognize Jesus and
hear his voice by saying to us: it is I, don’t be afraid.
Have courage
The story of the stormy sea is very interesting
to continue with Peter asking Jesus with this question: “Lord, if it is you,
command me to come to you on the water.”
Jesus then said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the
boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.
From the narrative, we see how Peter and Jesus
were interacting with each other, with a back and forth conversation. Move
beyond words, Peter took concrete action to walk towards Jesus.
I like Peter who is very cute. He is direct,
honest and bold. He was the first disciple to verify Jesus’ identity in the
dark. He asked Jesus to call him and when Jesus told him to come, he did not
hesitate but went straight away.
When Peter tried to take a bold step to walk
towards Jesus, he was trying to overcome his fear.
When we are facing dangers and threats, being
afraid is very natural for human being. What makes a difference for people with
faith in Jesus is that they are willing to overcome their fear by taking action
in the midst of danger. They won’t allow fear to overwhelm them or paralyse
them.
When Jesus said to his disciples, take heart, it
is me. In the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), the words used are, “Take heart.” In the New Jerusalem Bible
version, the phrase said by Jesus is ‘Courage!
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, courage
means the ability to control your fear in a dangerous or difficult situation.
Jesus did not only comfort and assure the
disciples by saying it is me, don’t be afraid, he gave them encouragement. He
told them to be courageous. In encountering storms in our life, Jesus spoke to
us about “Courage”, the ability to overcome fear.
Sisters and brothers, when we are facing storms
and dangers, may we receive and be strengthened by the courage of God through
Jesus. Peter, Jesus’ number one disciple, who was called to be the rock of the
church, has set us the example.
Ask for help from God
The story is indeed interesting to see how it
develops. Peter was bold to walk on the water. But not long after that
important step, 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?”
Peter is really a person with drama. One the one
hand he showed his trust in his master Jesus. One the other hand, his weakness
drew him back. Jesus in fact knew it very well. Peter had kept showing his
human side. He had faith in God. And yet there was time when he was weak and
doubtful. But what is really important is that he will cry to Jesus for help.
“Lord save me”.
Whenever we are in danger and in great
difficulties, and find that we can’t rely on ourselves any longer, don’t
hesitate to cry out for God’s help. Cry out loud to Jesus: Lord, save me! Remember
we are given this privilege and grace to seek God’s help and salvation.
Accept who we are: in
our weakness we see God
After he saved Peter from sinking, instead of
praising him for his courage and good try, Jesus challenged him by saying, “You
of little faith, why did you doubt?” We may see the tension and dynamic in the
relationship between Jesus and Peter. Jesus loved and cared for Peter. Peter
loved and was faithful to Jesus too. And yet, their relationship is not
necessarily tension free. As Jesus’ followers, no matter how good and positive
our encounter with God in the past, there could be time we may have lost our
faith or doubt about God. It is part of our faith journey in encountering God
especially when we are facing huge life trails. God know our weaknesses and
constraints. Although Jesus challenged Peter of his little faith, he still loved
him and entrusted him to be the head of the church. What is important is not to
focus on our weakness but our faith in God and always turn back to Jesus once
we realize we have walked away.
In the stormy sea, Peter encountered Jesus in
his fear and his little faith. I see the transformation of God’s disciple like
Peter who has been going through different storms in life. Once in a life-threatening
situation, he refused to recognize Jesus as his master. In faith and doubt, in
strength and in weakness, in hope and in despair, in success and in failure,
Peter kept his calling as Jesus never gave him up.
I trust that God does not give us up even in our
failure to trust and in time of doubt. Jesus still went into the boat together
with Peter at the end.
The wind ceased when
Jesus is in the boat
When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
This time, Jesus did not need to order the wind to stop like what he did before.
Once they got into the boat, the wind ceased. What he did this time was just
quietly went to the boat together with Peter and stayed with the other
disciples. The presence of Jesus is enough for the wind to cease.
At the end of the story, it tells us that, “And
those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” This
is the climax of the gospel account. In the storm, Jesus’s voice and actions to
save, his words of challenge and encouragement have strengthened the faith of
his disciples and build up a stronger relationship with them. The disciples
focus their lives not in the storm, not even in the calmness of the sea, but
God, the incarnated One who was with them and saved them.
In the midst of storm, what do we need to do? Be
with Jesus Christ, the incarnated God. Allow God to stay in the boat right at
the centre of our heart. I believe the calmness from Jesus within our heart
will give us comfort, courage and strength to face the storms in our lives and
in our world.
Storms are the disguise of God who is fully
present to embrace and save lives. Dear brothers and sisters, so don’t be
afraid of any storm that comes to us. Just be prepared to encounter God amidst
a storm.
# posted by Kowloon Union Church : Sunday, August 09, 2020
