12^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

 1.      My experience of the sea is probably rather limited. I have made the usual ferry boat crossings in different places round the world and enjoyed the usual pleasure craft voyages on lochs, lakes and seas here and abroad. I have flown over the vast expanse of the oceans. I have stood on the beach and debated with myself about whether to go in. And if you do swim in the sea, you quickly realise that this is no swimming pool!  All fairly standard stuff, I would have to admit. But even from that limited experience, it is not difficult to sense the great power of the sea and to appreciate the danger it could present if the force of nature decided to flex its muscles. You live here in Greenock by the shores of the Clyde and you will understand better than most the power of the sea. You will have seen from the windows of your homes the river become wild and stormy, and you will appreciate that even that show of raw strength is nothing to the destructiveness of a storm on the open sea, far less something like the great walls of water generated by a tsunami.

2.      So when Jesus, with a word, calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee, no wonder the disciples with him, experienced fishermen some of them, asked, “Who can this be?” and were drawn into the mystery of the person and the identity of Jesus. They knew very well that this kind of power over the elements was proper to the Creator God. They began to believe that their Master, this man Jesus, was also God.

3.      When the storm was upon them, the disciples were afraid. Even if we have little experience of the sea, we all have experience of fear: fear of physical danger; fear of violence; fear of being poor; fear of illness; fear for our children and loved ones; fear of rejection; fear of failure; fear of loneliness; fear of sin and evil; fear of death. Fear comes in all shapes and sizes. What all these different fears have in common is that it makes us small before other forces; it robs us of our dignity; it takes away our the ability to enjoy the goodness of God in the experiences of life and to grow and develop as human beings. “Why are you so frightened. Have you no faith?”, said Jesus to his disciples. “Do not be afraid.”

  4.      My dear brothers and sisters, “Do not be afraid” remains the defining message of the Lord to us. He is with us, the Creator God. He is with us who suffered, died and rose again. He is with us in the Spirit of strength and consolation. People of faith have always found that they were able to face and overcome their deepest fears by trusting in Lord. With faith in him, we will always be able to discern the goodness of God’s purpose for us, to be secure in his hands and so to grow as human beings.

 St. Mungo’s, Greenock

25^th June 2006.