Peace. Be Still.

Brad Sullivan

Proper 7, Year B

June 21, 2015

Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, Bay City, TX

Mark 4:35-41

Jesus and his disciples were in a boat, about to be swamped by the great wind and waves of a storm raging all around them.  Amidst the fear and incredulity of the disciples, Jesus says three words, “Peace!  Be Still!”, and the winds in the sea obeyed Jesus.  The storm calmed.  There was peace. 

On Wednesday night, 9 people were killed at Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charlestown, SC.  The gunman, terrorist we could call him, was caught, confessed to the killings, and on Friday, was being arraigned.   I heard on the news, recordings of family members of those who had been killed who were there during the arraignment.  They were forgiving the young man and praying for him.  They obeyed Jesus, the storm calmed, and there was peace. 

The storm in their lives is far from over, and they are, I am sure, far from peace, and yet, they chose to offer peace and forgiveness rather than spread the anger which they are also feeling.  The sister of DePayne Middleton-Doctor said she is 'still a work in progress' when it comes for forgiveness.  "I am very angry but one thing Depayne has always taught us that we are the family love built," she said. "We have no room for hate."

“Peace!  Be still!”  Jesus said to the storm, and the storm calmed, and there was peace.  Jesus commanded his disciples, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  (Matthew 5:44)  Again, he said, “Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:28)   The families of the victims of this shooting have obeyed Jesus’ commands.  They have shown grace upon grace.  They have offered peace to this storm that threatened to swamp their boat.

Anger, fear, resentment:  these are very natural ways to react when we are facing storms in our lives.  The problem is, anger, fear, and resentment don’t bring peace.  They just make the storm worse and swamp our boats that much more quickly.  Nelson Mandela, among others said, “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies” 

There are so many storms out there, and so many storms in here.  How are we going to obey Jesus in order to bring peace and calm to these storms?  What are we going to do?

Despite all of the political talk and debate that has erupted once again, bringing even more storms, the violent boat sinking storms that our nation faces will not be solved through legislation.  Laws may help, but they won’t calm the storm.  They won’t bring peace.  There are no quick fixes and easy solutions.

So what are we going to do?  How are we going to respond?  A clergy colleague of mine wrote the following prayer. 

Dear Lord, what would you have us do to turn things around?

Maybe start with turning around? Repentance? We (the church) are supposed to know how to do that. Confession?

What would world changing repentance and confession, from an entire denomination (the Episcopal Church- since a bunch of us are getting together next week in Salt Lake) for the sins of racism look like?

What would happen if an entire church got down on her knees and repented?

What would happen if we stayed on our knees and waited for God to moves us?

-  Sara Shisler Goff

Stay on our knees in prayer, and wait for God to move us.  That sounds like a pretty good way forward.  We want the world to change, but we can’t expect it to if we don’t change.  We can’t know how to change if we don’t listen to God first. 

So, I am suggesting and asking that all of us get together weekly with others to pray for peace and calm for the many storms in our lives and in our nation.  Then, when you get guidance from God to act, be daring enough to act, obeying Jesus’ commands to bring peace and calm to the storm.  If our actions aren’t bringing peace and calm, then we don’t need to be taking those actions.

So pray first. Then act.  Regarding praying with others in groups, this could be for 5 minutes with a co-worker.  This could be with a couple of friends with whom you already gather every week.  I’ve printed cards for everyone that you should have right now for you to write down three or four names of people whom you are going to ask to pray with you weekly. 

Additionally, we’ve got people in the back of the church who will write your name down if you need help in finding a group.  Simply give them your name, and we’ll help get you connected to a group. 

You should also have been given  a card with a prayer service for peace.  Use it if it’s helpful.  It is a basic liturgy for a short, small group prayer service adapted from the Book of Common Prayer.

Finally, you should have been given a bookmark with a prayer for the morning and for the night, both prayers asking for God to use us as servants of his peace.

We need peace so that the storms of this nation don’t keep swamping people’s boats.  We need to obey Jesus as the wind and the sea did, as the family of those killed in South Carolina did.  I’m asking you to do this.  I’m asking you to gather with others for prayer.  If you need help in starting this, ask for it.  If you’ve already got a group and are open to a couple of people joining, let us know, and we’ll guide people to you.

Pray nightly by yourself or with your family for peace.  Pray that God will make us servants of his peace.  Pray that we would obey Jesus as readily as the wind and the sea.

I offer and end with these two prayers for morning and night.

Each morning:

-          Lord of all creation, of light and life, the world is not what I wish it were.  Lord, use me as you will to bring about your kingdom of love.  Help transform my heart to let go of fear, pride, self-righteousness, and resentment, and fill me instead with daring, compassion, empathy, forgiveness, and love.  Then use me as you will, and leave me open and alert to your guidance.

Every night:

-          Lord, I have done what we could today.  I regret those actions I did not take which you wanted me to, and what I did which was against your will.  I am also grateful for those times when I did serve you.  This day is now past.  Please take it as my offering to you, and grant me a peaceful night and a perfect end, that I may be refreshed to do your will again tomorrow.

Pray these prayers with confidence in Jesus who said to the storm, "Peace.  Be still.", and the storm calmed, and there was peace.  Amen.