Luke 8:22-24: Calm
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Steven Curtis Chapman performs Be Still and Know, a song based on Psalm 46. The lyrics are well worth reading, and the song worth hearing. They remind us that we cannot survive the wind-tossed waves alone; they tell us that we must seek refuge from powerful winds and mighty seas in Christ only.
In Exodus 14:14 Moses tells his disquieted people, The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still.
As Nehemiah and Ezra rebuild the temple and city of Jerusalem and call the people back to God, the Levite priests say to the people: Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve. (Nehemiah 8:11)
The Psalms remind us: Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways,when they carry out their wicked schemes. (Psalm 37:7)
Be still, and know that I am God;I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10)
The prophet Zechariah tells us: Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling. (Zechariah 2:13)
And in Mark’s version of today’s story Jesus rebukes the wind with the words: Quiet! Be still! (Mark 4:39) The wind dies down and all is completely calm . . .
Christ’s followers are amazed when Jesus commands even the waters and winds . . . and so may we be once we fully hand our lives over to the one who has created us.
Christ’s detractors complain that Jesus breaks all the observed laws . . . and so may we if we allow the laws to become our gods.
Christ’s enemies stalk him with envy and greed . . . and so may we if we allow the details of life to overcome us.
Christ’s true disciples read this story and believe . . . and so may we believe once we live each moment in Christ rather than fret the minutes of each day away in ourselves.
And so we pray . . .
On this day when we consider all that is turbulent in our lives, let us allow Christ to silence the tumult of our lives and let us be still. In this rush of activity, let us invite Christ into our lives and let us give over to him all that troubles us. In this season of waiting in joyful hope, let us make room for Christ – even if we can only manage a small pocket of quiet. In this time of anticipation, let us surrender to him all our dreams and desires. Let us give willingly to him all that we are, and all that we have. Let us go to Christ openly, honestly and lovingly. And let us hunker down in the ship of life and trust that God will calm both the wind and the sea. Amen.
Link to Chpaman’s Be Still: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHlbnNUHQGI
Adapted from a reflection posted on December 1, 2011.
Image from: http://freechristimages.org/biblestories/jesus_calms_the_storm.htm
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