St. James - 20th June 2021

God is bigger than our circumstances

1 Sam 17.32-49 & Mark 4.35-41

For followers of football the concept of giant killing does not need explaining often it is the most unexpected result in the most bizarre of circumstances. In 1992 Arsenal the current league champions travelled to lower Division 4 contenders Wrexham with more than half the team were 20 or younger. Despite this they delivered 2-1 defeat on Arsenal. Often such ties are referred to as David and Goliath affairs due to the impossible nature of the task, when normally 99 times out of 100 the stronger more professional opposition would win, however, in the FA Cup there is always a chance of an upset.

Both our passagers today speak of the impossible circumstances a young untrained shepherd boy defeating an experienced mighty warrior and Jesus calming the storm with just words saving the disciples from danger and possible death.

Recently I think it is fair to say we have all been experiencing metorphorical storms and giants as a result of the Pandemic.

So what about my story over the last couple of years? It has been one of storms and giants. For those of you who don’t know we left St. James nearly two years to train for Ordained ministry at Cranmer Hall in Durham. During this time we have experienced significant blessings of a community for us all including Sara and the kids living in a community with 11 other Ordinands and their families, some of whom are friends and will be ministry partners for life. Cranmer is an incredible college with many gifted lecturers and ordinands all of which has developed me as a person, a student, a theologian, a minister, a leader and a practitioner with constant challenge to go deeper yet keeping the fruit of the spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. One of my main takeaways was from a module called Mission and Entreprenship that emphasised the importance of being a non-anxious presence. Clearly, from both our readings this morning David and Jesus had this in spades and is so important for ministry today where the church is need of non-anxious leaders and Priests. For me, there has many challenges with the need to hold my nevre whether this has been to do with the overwhelming challenge of academic work, training for ministry in the midst of a global pandemic and having multiple lockdowns meaning much of the last year teaching has been on Zoom and meaning that we have not been able to see family for over 6 months and people close to us have in fact died from Covid. Yet despite these giants and storms God has been faithful giving us community, technology and gift of his presence. So thank-you for your prayers and support for us we could not have done it without St. James and you will always hold a special place in our hearts. The future looks good we have recently moved to Haydock to start my curacy at St. Mark’s next Sunday. My Ordination will be at 4pm next Saturday on the Cathedral YouTube channel.

As we return to the passages and I’ve reflected over the last couple of years it has been said that hindsight is a wonderful thing and it really is because these stories can be so familiar to us that we lose the powerful nature of the God who can defeat giants and calms the storm. Having said that let’s not jump to oversimplistic conclusions that it will be alright in the end as true as that maybe. So this morning I want to reflect briefly on two things - the situation and the solution.

The situation:

In our Old Testament passage Israel had a major or a big problem if you pardon the pun - Goliath! As he was about 9 foot tall and David was just a youth. Goliath had challenged the Israelites to fight that if he was defeated the Philistine’s would then become their servants, however, if Goliath was to win then the Israelites must serve the Philistines. Therefore, no one was up for the challenge - except for this shepherd boy who had killed a lion and a bear for the sake of his flock. There was too much at stake for the Israelites and who could blame them? So they played it safe by doing nothing, hoping that there would another way other than to face Goliath. But there wasn’t and David had volunteered. Saul to be fair tried his best to put David off or to help David by putting his armour on him. We are told that David was not use to them so went as himself a shepherd boy with a staff, sling and stones from the river. David saw something that needed to be done and did it not as warrier but as himself.

Do we sometimes play it too safe? Rather than trust God.

Or do we allow the fear of the situation to get the better of us? Rather than trusting God

In our Gospel we hear upon Jesus’ suggestion ‘let’s go over to the other side’ of the Sea of Galiee. It isn’t only boats that are in danger on the Sea of Galilee. To this day, the car parks on the western shore have signs warning drivers of what happens in high winds. The sea can get very rough very quickly, and big waves can swamp cars parked on what looked like a safe beach. Now some of the disciples were experienced fishermen so a bit of rough weather wouldn’t bother them but this was different. Now this was about more than just a rescue in general the sea for the Jews came to symbolise, the power of darkness, threatening to destroy God’s creation, people and purposes. Plus on practical level how could Jesus still be asleep through such a storm and at the end of the reading is rather unsympathic as to why the disciples were scared and I think I would be too.

So what is it all about? Is it simply that it will be alright in the end? Or is there deep meaning? What is the solution?

The solution?

I have heard it said that faith is spelt RISK! Both these situations required a faith that was risky. David’s confidence seems nieve but he does not allow the circumstances or the situation to dictate he stays focussed on who God is, who had delivered him before and will do again.

For the disciples there eyes were opened to the fact that Jesus was and is still today the real deal! Not just man but God as said silence the wind died down.

Both of these situations needed risky faith, they needed a faith in God who is bigger than the giant and who is stronger and more powerful than the storm. Now this isn’t just a test it is sense of presence God isn’t just removed from these situations but is in the midst of the battle and in the middle of the storm.

Conclusion

So what your giants at the moment? Are you in the middle of a storm and you feel helpless? Two encouragements - first, God is with you in the midst of the situation no matter how bad or dark or hopeless it gets. Second, have that risky faith that trusts that God is bigger than the current circumstance - so whatever the challenge is for us whether as individual or a Church keep in mind that God is bigger. And let this Celtic Prayer be all here at St. James’ as you continue to be in my prayers as we move on:

God to enfold me, God to surround me,

God in my thinking, God in my thinking

God in my sleeping, God in my waking

God in my watching, God in my hoping,

God in my life, God in my lips,

God in my soul, God in my heart,

God in my sufficing, God in my slumber,

God in mine ever-living soul,

God in mine eternity.

Amen