I believe in miracles but, I also believe in ordinaries
too.
I suppose, what brought this thought on was the reading for
my current sermon series. The particular
passage was about Peter walking on water.
If you want to read it for yourself, you can find it in Matthew 14 vs.
22 – 33.
It’s a powerful story.
Jesus tells the disciples he is going by himself to pray
and they should sail to the other side of the lake. He will see them later. As they are doing the very thing Jesus has told
them to do, a storm blows in.
Just as they think that things cannot possibly get any more
terrifying, Jesus walks on the water toward them. Peter is desperate to get out of the boat and
walk with Jesus, which he does for a while until he starts sinking. Jesus words to him are one’s that, I think, all
of us fear hearing at times;
“You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
(Matthew 14 vs. 31)
I suppose, if we look at
Peter, we can say “at least say he had the courage to get out of the boat and
walk on the water. The other disciples
stayed in the boat”
This
is a passage that I have preached on many times before. I have found hope and encouragement in its
words. It is a passage full of
miracles. I believe in miracles
As
I read and re-read the passage, I found myself thinking more about the
disciples in the boat. I began to
consider something I had not considered before.
The disciples in the boat.
Storms
strike in many different ways. Coronavirus
has been a storm like no other I have seen in my lifetime. It’s a storm that has often left me confused,
angry and frustrated. I know many have
felt the emotional turmoil of these challenging times.
But,
coronavirus is not the only storm we have faced. We have all got stories to
tell of those occasions when a storm of life has blown in and blown our lives
off course.
Whenever
the storms of life arise so does the question of faith.
That’s
why Jesus’ question to Peter is one that often haunts us as we cross the sea of
life.
“You of little faith; why did you doubt?”
There’s
something about that question that makes quick answers, the platitudes, so
hurtful. “You just need more faith.”
There
is a real danger in this kind of theology and understanding of faith. There
have been those, during the coronavirus crisis who have taught that, somehow
faith will exempt us from having to take the same measures as everybody
else. If we have enough faith, they say,
then we can ignore the medical advice.
Let
me state categorically now. Christians
are not exempt from the laws of nature and biology!
Regardless
of how much faith we have disease takes a toll on our body. Accidents happen. Loved ones die.
Despite
our faith life is difficult, and we (quoting Mick Jagger) “can’t always get
what we want”
The
thought occurred to me; Maybe faith is not about walking on water through the
storms of life but about staying in the boat.
“You of little faith; why did you doubt?”
Maybe
Jesus is asking why Peter got out of the boat.
After all Jesus is the one who “made the disciples get into the boat.” Jesus is the one who told them to “go to the
other side.” Jesus is the one who prayed
during their night voyage. Jesus is the one who came to them in the midst of
the storm. Jesus is the one who reassured them saying,
“Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
(Matthew 14 vs. 27)
It is Peter who wanted to get
out of the boat. Peter wanted to try and prove something to the others. Is Peter, perhaps, expressing something about
escaping from the storm?
Faith
is not a way to escape the storms of life.
It is the way through the storms of life.
Sometimes,
being faithful means staying in the boat and simply rowing. This kind of faith knows that Christ is
always coming to us. This kind of faith knows we are not abandoned. This is the
kind of faith that seeks God in the ordinary, not just in the miraculous.
I believe in miracles but, I also believe in the ordinaries. Sometimes God works through miracles but, in my experience, God works more frequently in the ordinary. May he give us the eyes to see him, the ears to hear his reassurance, and the courage to stay in the boat and keep rowing!