{"id":596945,"date":"2021-05-18T10:02:23","date_gmt":"2021-05-18T14:02:23","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-08-24T17:19:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T21:19:10","slug":"master-of-the-winds-and-the-waves-pentecost-4-b-june-20-2021","status":"publish","type":"sermon","link":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/sermons\/master-of-the-winds-and-the-waves-pentecost-4-b-june-20-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Master of the Winds and the Waves, Proper 7 (B) \u2013 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>RCL: 1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 and Psalm 9:9-20 or 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 10-16 and Psalm 133; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-green-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-green-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/playlist.megaphone.fm\/?e=DFMS6379284148&#038;light=true\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-green-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-green-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/P7B-2021-Cover-FB-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-246947\" style=\"width:512px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The winds and the waves<br>Shall obey my will, peace be still.<br>Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea<br>Or demons, or men, or whatever it be.<br>No water can swallow the ship where lies<br>The Master of ocean and earth and skies;<br>They shall sweetly obey my will,<br>Peace be still, peace be still.<br>They all shall sweetly obey my will;<br>Peace, peace be still.<br>James Cleveland,<em> Peace Be Still<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most, the sea conjures up delightful images. Some enjoy the serenity of a quiet walk on the shore or a cruise to a tropical island. Modern images of the sea are typically tame and inviting, lulling us into associating the sea with a sense of tranquility. The sea can be described in an endless number of ways. It is refreshing, beautiful, and humbling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not so for Mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mark\u2019s sea is not a place for romantic cruises on crystal blue waters. According to theologian Sharyn Dowd, the waters are demon-filled and threaten to leave widows behind whenever their loved ones set sail in pursuit of their livelihood. Mark\u2019s sea is where discipleship is challenged, where boundaries are impassable, where life hangs in the balance, and where evil lurks as a formidable foe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Storms happen \u2013 even to the best, the smartest and the most prepared among us. Storms terrify us, knocking us around, threatening to destroy our stability and security. We don\u2019t know whether we can withstand them, and we are uncertain of how long they will last. At least, that\u2019s how a storm at sea would be for most of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is how it was for the disciples. At the end of a long day of teaching, Jesus needs a break and initiates a trip across the Sea of Galilee. Although the water is usually calm, the wind coming over the surrounding mountains can suddenly raise a tumultuous storm. Even with Jesus on board, they still encountered tremendous gusts. There was no avoiding this storm. Even as they faithfully followed Jesus\u2019 instructions to cross the water to the other side, they were beaten by waves. Even though surrounded by other boats \u2013 the wind howled \u2013 lightning flashed \u2013 rain poured \u2013 thunder boomed, and the boat seemed to be sinking. The disciples were terrified that they would perish and Jesus was asleep \u2013 on a cushion no less! So, they cry out, \u201cTeacher, do you not care that we are perishing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is then that Jesus calmed the sea with the words, \u201cPeace, be still.\u201d An image captured so well in the lyrics of the song written by James Cleveland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We may have never crossed the Sea of Galilee, but we\u2019ve been in that boat. This story is not just a story about a boat trip and stormy weather. It\u2019s a story about life \u2013 our life \u2013 our fear \u2013 our faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Times of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger have often been compared to stormy seas. They come upon us whether we like it or not. Life is like that. We can avoid some storms by watching the weather forecast and using some common sense. We can avoid some emotional, spiritual, financial, and social disasters by being wise and following God\u2019s instructions. But sometimes, bad things just happen \u2013 even while we\u2019re minding our own business, doing what\u2019s right, living out our Baptismal Covenant to the best of our ability, with God\u2019s help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes, life places us in a boat and the storms begin to rage \u2013 the storms of pain and loss &#8211; the storms of rejection and failure \u2013 the storms of illness and death \u2013 the storms of pandemic and polar vortex \u2013 storms brought on by racial and political unrest. Whenever or however they arise, storms are about changing conditions. Life becomes overwhelming and out of control. The waves crash, the boat fills up, and we\u2019re struggling to stay afloat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more than a year, the storm of pandemic has taken us to uncharted waters. We have a desired destination but are not sure of where we will end up or when we will get there. The water is deep, and the new shore is a distant horizon. We long to trade in our lament for the psalmist\u2019s proclamation: \u201cLet the redeemed of the Lord say so!\u201d Instead, we cry out in fear, \u201cGod, where are you? Do you not care that we are suffering?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the wind ceased and the waves became calm, Jesus questioned the disciples\u2019 fear and lack of faith. It is worth noting that Jesus never said, \u201cThere\u2019s nothing to be afraid of.\u201d The storm on the Sea of Galilee that night must have been extremely fearsome if seasoned fishermen doubted their own ability to keep the boat afloat. We often confuse the two phrases, but saying, \u201cThere\u2019s nothing to be afraid of,\u201d is quite different from saying, \u201cDo not be afraid.\u201d The truth is that things that cause fear are very real. Isolation, pain, viruses, the loss of one\u2019s job, or loss of a relationship, illness, and death are real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like the disciples in our text, we are also challenged to rediscover our faith in God\u2019s word when we find ourselves in the midst of storms. The questions Jesus asked the disciples are the questions he continues to ask us: \u201cWhy are you afraid? Have you still no faith?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we grow in faith, we come to understand that the things that cause us despair do not have the last word. Yet, faith does not eliminate, change, or take us around the storms of our lives. Rather, faith takes us through the storms, reminding us that Jesus is there with us. We are reminded that the power of God is mightier than any wind that beats against us \u2013 that the love of God is deeper than any wave that threatens to drown us. Jesus invites us to stay with him in the boat saying, \u201cLet us go across to the other side, I won\u2019t leave your side, I\u2019ll journey with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And let\u2019s not forget that Jesus was not addressing only one disciple when he invited them on their boat trip. He addressed all twelve, and Mark tells us that other boats were with him. They were in community. If the past year has taught us anything, it is the importance of community. People have worked so hard to stay connected to their communities, even while apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just as the disciples set off for the other shore with Jesus in the stern, we too, journey with our community, accompanied by the Master of ocean and earth and skies, who promises, \u201cThe winds and the waves shall obey my will, peace be still.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the last winds died down from Hurricane Katrina, there was little optimism among those who remained in New Orleans and could venture out to see what had happened to their city. But in the heart of the French Quarter, in the courtyard behind St. Louis Cathedral, they found a sign of hope: A statue of Jesus, standing with outstretched arms on a white marble pedestal, still stood amid the rubble, unscathed by the destruction all around. A giant magnolia tree had fallen a few feet away; so had an ancient oak. Several burial vaults lay broken and smashed. But there stood the risen Christ with outstretched arms, offering peace and calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Friends, when the storms of life toss us to and fro, may we be reminded that the Master of the winds and the waves is present in every storm and his response is always the same: \u201cPeace! Be still!\u201d Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This sermon was written by <strong>the Rev. Marcea Paul<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-6f5e68ad-0bcb-437c-b1e7-395f4b2bb7e0\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Sermon-Proper-7B-English.docx\">Word &#8211; Pentecost 4 (B) Sermon<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Sermon-Proper-7B-English.docx\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-6f5e68ad-0bcb-437c-b1e7-395f4b2bb7e0\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-ba5cd6f3-563f-42f3-ab36-a1a4a77da125\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Sermon-Proper-7B-English.pdf\">PDF &#8211; Pentecost 4 (B) Sermon<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Sermon-Proper-7B-English.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-ba5cd6f3-563f-42f3-ab36-a1a4a77da125\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RCL: 1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 and Psalm 9:9-20 or 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 10-16 and Psalm 133; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41 The winds and the wavesShall obey my will, peace be still.Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed seaOr demons, or men, or whatever it be.No water can swallow the ship where liesThe&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":201212,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[43,52,33,1953],"tags":[371],"class_list":["post-596945","sermon","type-sermon","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sermons","category-sermons-that-work","category-the-season-after-pentecost","category-worship-and-prayer-menu","tag-proper-7b"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":43,"label":"Sermons"},{"value":52,"label":"Sermons That Work"},{"value":33,"label":"The Season After Pentecost"},{"value":1953,"label":"worship_and_prayer_menu"}],"post_tag":[{"value":371,"label":"Proper 7B"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":[],"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon\/596945","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/sermon"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon\/596945\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3485550,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sermon\/596945\/revisions\/3485550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=596945"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=596945"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=596945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}