“Now when Jesus heard of John's death, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd.”
So today Jesus has another go at being alone. This time He is quite adamant about it.
“Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray”.
We then get the whole stormy waves story, Peter has a go at walking on water and bless Him, he nearly nails it. Jesus' words of reassurance and a willing hand to help Peter to rise above the waves.
There is a place and time when we need to say things to God and we need to create a space for him to say things to us. Let’s do the speaking to Him bit first.
If you think of the word ACTS | A - C - T - S.
A is for Adoration.
Now isn’t God wonderful. God you are awesome and amazing.
C is for Confession.
Well God I seem to have stepped into this muck again. I knew that it wasn’t right and I knew that there would be consequences, but that didn’t seem to stop me. Help me to extricate myself from this goop, help those who I have made a mess of and give me resolve to avoid all ickyness in the future.
T is for Thanksgiving.
Thank you God that you give us Harley Davidson motorcycles, glorious refreshing beverages made from the juice of the grape that maketh glad the hearts of all people and for those little saints who have taught me the faith and encourage me still.
S is for Supplication.
Watch over Fred, my neighbour and his wife Wilma. I heard them arguing the other night and their kids were crying. Also great aunt Flo is having an uncomfortable medical test next week and I ask you to be especially close to her.
And all that is right and proper, but we must also set aside a time to listen.
This setting apart business, is what Jesus was doing when he sent the disciples and the crowds away.
The question must not just be “What do I want to say to God, but it must also be
“What does God want to say to me?” Yes, I’ve always got heaps I want to tell him and how in three quick, easy to do at home, steps, He could sort out the Church of God and end world poverty. That’s the easy bit. The hard bit is to actually be quiet and ask
“Lord, What is it that you want to say to me today?”
So often like the gospel, the wind is against us. There are all sorts of waves slushing around inside. There are fears and doubts and misgivings and complications and trickiness. There are distractions, some of them alluring, some of them downright terrifying. There are ‘what if’s’ and ‘should haves’. Like Peter, we do not see who it is that is right before us. We assume that it is something else altogether and we are fearful of what the waves might do to us. No wonder we can so easily sink and falter.
Jesus' words to Peter are simple and there is a very real sense in which he might be speaking into whatever storm might be raging inside of you today. So listen and make space friends.
What if the Master wants to smile upon you and chidingly but lovingly say
‘Why did you doubt?’
What if he is already saying to us
“Take heart, it is I?”
Maybe he wants to say to you today
“Do not be afraid.”
What if he wants to say to you.
“Well done good and faithful servant?”
I conclude with a prayer that I learnt a long time ago. I’ve printed it separately in the pew sheet and hope you find it helpful. It is one that I use before saying morning and evening prayer and it is about making space for God to speak to us. Sending the crowds away and stilling the turbulence, so that we might hear him and we in turn can say “Truly you are the son of God”.
Open thou our lips O Lord to bless your holy name,
Cleanse also our hearts from all vain, froward and wandering thoughts;
enlighten our understanding, enkindle our affection,
that we may offer our prayers worthily,
attentively devoutly and maybe counted worthy to be heard
before the presence of your divine majesty through Christ our Lord. Amen.