August 10, 2008

The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Holy Year of Paul, the Apostle

“Meanwhile the boat…was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came toward them walking on the sea.”—Matthew 14:24-25

Dear Friends:

Most of us have had the tempestuous experience of a sleepless night. The disciples of Jesus knew sleepless nights. This time rather than tossing and turning in the night in this week’s reading from Matthew they were being tossed by the tempest on the sea. It was the fourth watch of the night—meaning it was 3:00 AM.

Methodist Pastor and writer Rev. William Ritter calls 3:00 AM the “Worst of Times.” “If you cannot sleep 3:00 AM is tossing and turning time. If someone isn’t home by 3:00 AM it is pace-the-floor time. If the telephone rings at 3:00 AM it’s palm-sweating time.

So it is three in the morning. The disciples are being tossed about by a rough sea. What were these seasoned fisherman doing out on the sea at night? They knew that the Sea of Galilee was notorious for violent storms in the night. Yet they did it because they were doing what Jesus asked of them—to go and meet him on the other side of the sea. Just when all seemed darkest and lost they see Jesus. Their fear gives way as they see him approach them on the raging waters. Fear gives way to hope and joy.

So often when people experience the storms of life they feel like they have been abandoned by God. They think that God is present only when things are going well. However they miss the God who is also with us in the midst of the storm.

When our fear overcomes us in the middle of the night we question where is our God. We have been trying to do what God wants of us, so why is this happening? Are we being punished? Or maybe we have just been fooling ourselves? The questions crash over us like a breaking surf.

Being a follower, a disciple, of Jesus means that we listen to him. If he tells us to go we go. However, that does not mean that we will be spared difficulties or sleepless nights. Being faithful does not mean that we will have a pain free existence. It does mean that in the tempests of our life we can reach out in the dark, in the raging waters and grab onto Jesus. 3:00 AM can be an excellent time to pray!

There all the time walking on the waves is the one who takes us by the hand and says, “O you of little faith why did you doubt?” Then the wind dies down and we make it through the night and we see the Lord who has been with us all the time.

Peace,

Fr. Ron