Fifth Sunday after Pentecost 2024

Mark 4,35-41

Rev. Neli Miranda

 

Mark presents us today with a perfect image of chaos - a storm at sea. In a storm in the middle of the sea, and I hope none of us have to be in one, there is no stability, everything moves, there is nothing secure to hold onto, nothing is under control! No wonder ancient peoples like the Jews feared the sea. Thus, in Jesus’ time, the Israelites recognized the sea as a symbol of threat and biblical writers used the image of the sea to describe danger and threat. However, they also knew that God ruled over the sea to the point of ordering it to divide so that the people of Israel could walk safely out of Egypt. The Lord is the one who “stilled the storm to a whisper and quieted the waves of the sea”, we also read in today’s psalm (107,29).

Today, Mark tells us of Jesus’ disciples facing a storm at sea. In the preceding verses, Jesus has been on the shores of the Sea of Galilee teaching about the Kingdom of God through parables which have as a center the image of the seed that must be scattered everywhere to bear fruit. At the end of this series of parables, the time has come to scatter the seed on the lake’s other side and Jesus says to his disciples. “Let us go across to the other side”.  

“Crossing to the other side” meant crossing the Sea of Galilee to reach the Gentile region of the Gerasenes on the eastern shore. Mark describes how this first border-crossing mission faced several risks. However, it is important to note that the disciples did not go alone - Jesus accompanied them! The risks of this mission are represented by the challenging journey of crossing the Sea of Galilee from west to east.  “Crossing to the other side” is not always easy. It requires overcoming fears, facing obstacles along the way, and FAITH!  

So, as Jesus and the disciples crossed to the other side, to an unknown Gentile region, “A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped”. These images tell us just how challenging it was for Jesus’s community to embark on this crossing beyond their comfort zone, in order to spread the seed of God’s kingdom to people in needy. The violent storm at sea depicts the difficulties they faced in crossing to the other side. 

Mark’s account conveys how Jesus’ community experienced real danger and threat of being swallowed as they try to reach the other side. Also we can see that the disciples still lacked full faith. They are so convinced that they were going to perish that they cry out to Jesus: "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" these words tells us that they did not fully comprehend Jesus ‘power and protection, for how could they truly perish with him by their side?

In the first century, the religious and political system colluded against Jesus’ community. these evil powers tried to engulf their mission and stop the advance of Jesus’ message. However, as Mark relates, the powerful presence of Jesus was with his disciples even in the midst of the storm. Jesus rebuked the raging winds and commanded the chaotic sea, "Quiet! Be still!" Though the disciples had accompanied Jesus and heard his teachings, they had not yet known Jesus’ authority over the evil power of death.

For over two millennia, Jesus’ disciples have crossed many seas and countless borders, and no earthly powers have stopped them. This community, the church, has faced off against great oppressive forces seeking to quash its message of God's kingdom, with its Herald calling for justice and peace. Yet through the ages, the boat of Jesus’ community has ever reached the further shore and proclaimed the good news to the needy found there.

Thus, in this passage, Jesus invites us to take the risks of crossing to the other side, knowing that the Risen Jesus accompanies us and that his powerful voice silences the evil voices of our time.  Where is the church called to cross in this twenty-first century? As the community of San Alban, where does Jesus call us to cross in our tine?

On the other hand, the image of the disciples facing danger in the middle of the sea resonates with each of us.  How many times have we seen that all our possible moorings are very far away, and we feel completely helpless? We all, at some point, want to cross to the other side, to health, to forgiveness, to a relationship, to a total well-being. While we cross to the other side, let us take heart that just as with the first disciples, Jesus still travels with us.

Let's cross to the other side!