Rough Seas

Matthew 14:22-33

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 toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, 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 toward 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 worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Walk on the ocean
Step on the stones
Flesh becomes water
Wood becomes bone

"Walk on the Ocean" by Toad the Wet Sprocket from "Fear" (1991)

Jesus made the disciples, the twelve apostles along with other believers, go to the other side of the sea, shipping them off in a boat while he saw off the rest of the crowds. For the first time in Matthew’s gospel Jesus sent the disciples off on their own.

For the disciples, it must have been like kids being sent off to camp for the first time. For Jesus, it must have been like being the parent of a kid being sent off to camp for the first time. No wonder Jesus went off to pray.

So later in the evening, early in the morning really, the boat was being buffeted by the waves. Headway was difficult and the sea was dangerous. Jesus didn't promise them an easy journey, he just told them to get going.

The sea holds a special meaning for these Jewish disciples. To them, the sea was a place of danger. Not only did they know the dangers of the sea fishermen knew first hand; they also knew from the creation story that the waters were the place of chaos. The waters were a place of danger and death. Their worst known and unknown fears were before their very eyes in the pre-dawn darkness.

Without Jesus their lives were in chaos, and they feared dying without him.

In their rain soaked wind battered vessel, suddenly, they see their Lord, Jesus Christ, walking toward them on the water.

“Is it a ghost?” “Nope” Jesus responds, “it’s just little ole me.” That’s the way it reads in English, but the people heard him say “I AM,” not “It’s me.” They heard him invoke the holiest of holy names for himself. That might have been even scarier than thinking they saw a ghost.

Jesus tells the disciples not to be afraid. Jesus tells them He is who he is, as the Lord God told Moses I AM WHO I AM. So Peter, the rock (and with a nickname like that shouldn't we have seen what’s coming next), he says, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus says, “Come” and Peter does.

It’s all good for a couple of steps; but when pummeled by the wind and the rain and the waves; the chaos of water and life overwhelm Peter and he begins sink. He cries again, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reaches out to Peter saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

The traditional reading of these last words of Jesus on the water is taken to tell the world that with a little more faith, Peter would have made it to Jesus. Imagine my surprise to find this is not what the commentaries say. The commentaries say this passage is about the church, the church represented by the ship.

Jesus sends the church onto the chaotic sea of creation. As then, we are called to do the work the Lord has sent us to do. We are to faithfully live our vocation as the people of Christ. This has been the call of the church since the days of Moses, since the days of Jesus, and this is the call we are still called to fulfill today.

But as usual, Peter has his own ideas. He sees the Lord on the sea and says, “If it is you, then command me to come to you,” and the Lord replies “Come.” People see Peter’s subsequent sinking as a sign that his faith isn't strong enough. With just a little more faith, Peter could have made it to Jesus and they could have walked together in victory to the boat. Well, that’s not it.

First of all, this command to come is not a case of Jesus testing Peter’s faith. This is Peter testing Jesus. “If it is you, then command me to come to you.” Jesus won’t tell a lie. He’s Lord, it is he, and he is who he is. Jesus is answering Peter’s question, “is it you?” the way he asked it be answered, “Command me to come!”

You gotta give it to Jesus; he answers our prayers even when it makes us look foolish.

So Peter leaves the relative safety of the boat and tries to get to Jesus on his own. And when Peter does, the treacherous world drops on his head and he begins to sink. Only to be plucked out of chaos by Jesus, the gracious Lord who takes Peter by the hand and returns him to the boat.

In the allegory, Peter not only leaves the boat, he leaves the church and tries to get to Jesus on his own. When we try to get to God on our own, inevitably chaos overwhelms us and we sink. When we leave the church, the church as the body of Christ, to find God on our own, we ultimately find ourselves sinking in the morass of chaos.

Peter’s little faith is not that he couldn't get to Jesus. His little faith was that he thought leaving the boat, the church, was the way to get to Jesus.

Walk on the ocean
Step on the stones
Flesh becomes water
Wood becomes bone

It's a lovely song, but God became flesh, water became wine, and we are to stay in the boat and wait for Jesus to come. Thanks be to God, this is the promise he gives us, he will come.

Tongues

1Corinthians 14:1-5

Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church. Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oye como va mi ritmo
Bueno pa gosar mulata

"Oye Como Va" written and performed by Tito Puente (While Carlos Santana took this song to a whole new place, it was written and originally performed by Tito Puente.)

The gift of tongues, perhaps the most misunderstood gift God has given the church. Some think that tongues is a "sealing of the Holy Spirit" and "you are not saved with demonstrating the gift of tongues." Others think it's "no longer a true gift of the church." The most skeptical opinion is probably "Sure, all of God's gifts are active in the church, but since tongues can be counterfeited and manipulated by anyone who can shriek and babble how can we trust anyone who claims to have it?"

Paul gives us two indications, the first is that the tongue must be interpreted to be of use to the church. If there is no interpretation the tongue would fall on figuratively deaf ears. The second is that the gift of tongues, as well as all gifts, are to build the body of Christ. That's central to what Paul is trying to get across to the church in 1Corinthians 14.

Yes, pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, pursue all of the gifts--every single solitary one of them, but especially the gift of prophesy. Prophecy is a word directly to the church. Prophecy is directly for upbuilding, encouragement, and consolation. Prophecy builds the whole body of Christ. Tongues can build the church too, but when the speaker uses a tongue to manipulate; God is not glorified.

Paul ends saying, "One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up." Paul teaches that it is better for the body to rise than just a single member. It is important for us each to "increase our walk in Christ." Each of us individually is to be obedient, to seek God, and to follow where the Lord leads. But even if every member rises in faith individually, it is better for the entire body to rise together.

God isn't looking for spiritual divas. Our God is a God of the rising tide that lifts the whole boat of the church. This is more important than everyone in their individual lifeboat, or worse, their individual yacht.

There were several reasons behind the choice of "Oye Como Va" for today's devotional. Particularly, among Anglos over the age of 45, this may be the only Spanish we know and we don't really know what it means. But we can sure sing along, even if we don't know the words.

A very loose translation (particularly with my lack of knowledge of Spanish, especially Spanish slang from 1963) could be "Check out my good enjoyable rhythm, my mixed-race friends!" A question about my interpretation of this tongue: Is Tito singing to a group of people who are mixed race Spanish-Native Mexican (the most common Mexican mulatto) or is he crying out to all peoples everywhere to come and dance?

I like to think he's calling people from all nations to come, enjoy the rhythm, let the music move you, and enjoy. Frankly, that would be a very good way of lifting the body of Christ, coming together and dancing to the music of Tito Puente. That might just be a good interpretation of this tongue.

Truly I tell you, far worse things have been done in the name of the Lord.

See Feel Touch Heal

James 5:14-16

Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

See me
Feel me
Touch me
Heal me

"See Me, Feel Me/Listening to You" from Tommy by Pete Towneshend recorded by The Who. This version recorded at Woodstock

There are times when some of the liturgy of worship may seem like so much voodoo. Healing is one of them. We ask ourselves just what can oil do? What kind of oil should be used in this anointing? Prayer as healthcare?

Tommy screams these words as a prayer to the world, a world he can hardly sense at all. The deaf, dumb, and blind kid has few senses left. He has little way to communicate. Language must be very difficult for someone who cannot process it by any sense. I can't know. But in The Who's rock opera, Tommy screams for contact. See me! Feel me! Touch me! Heal me!

James reminds the elders to anoint with oil. Olive oil, the oil of the day, does help sooth and clean wounds. Burns would be salved by this oil. The feel of the oil would be cool to the touch helping to heal a wound.

Prayer is surely a communication with the Almighty, but in this case it is also a communication with the afflicted. The person who is ill has someone or a whole crew of someones caring for them. Seeing, feeling, touching, and healing. There is care in contact that is lost when we keep our distance. Being close helps heal. Even when our touch does not have the skill of the surgeon, being close helps heal.

And when we have hurt one another, whether physical, psychological, or emotional, confession makes healing begin. So as James directs, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. Only when we acknowledge our pain, and the pain we have caused can healing begin.

Prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.