Welcome to Monday’s Podcast – My name is Tom Finnemore, I’m part of the team here at STC and I’ll be picking up the baton from Dave Saxton as we continue this week through the Gospel of Luke.  Our reading today is Luke 8: 22-39 but today I’ll read verse 24-25:

The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.’

REFLECTION:

Over the Christmas period we had a Sunday off and so visited family in Manchester. A few days before we set off they sent a message inviting us to their church. ‘Come and see what is a really important part of our lives…’ I was pretty miffed. I spend Sundays in church anyway and a Sunday off is a great opportunity to chill out. So we set off early (to get to their church) and as we drove over a very foggy Snake Pass I felt a gentle check in my attitude – which wasn’t a great attitude – and to instead pray a simple prayer: “Lord, may I hear you speak today.”

When we arrived at the church, the preacher opened with this question: ‘Who do you trust?’

He was quoting Psalm 146: ‘Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men who cannot save.’

It’s a powerful question.

Let me ask you a question: What is your worst fear?

Spiders? Flying? Health failing? What could happen to your children? Failing exams?

In ancient times there were all kinds of superstitions attached to the sea. Particularly around storms. It was believed that a storm was the result of a cosmic battle underneath the water between good and evil.

So the storm in today’s passage exposed fear in the hearts of the disciples – even though there were experienced fishermen on board who had been through many storms, they believed they were going to die.

What do we do when we get that diagnosis that isn’t good or you Google your symptoms and read something rather unhelpful? When your child comes home from school and you realised they’re being bullied, or you just didn’t get that exam mark you hoped for?

We freak out.

I do!

At the moment I’m learning about what means to trust God. I’m 39 and I’m Ordained – so I feel I should know better – but I realise that I don’t always trust Him. But I believe he’s inviting me on a journey of trust.

When storms hit – or have hit – I often try and fix it myself.

In this story Jesus does not freak out – he sleeps soundly.

The things that panic me or threaten me – don’t panic Jesus. If discipleship is about becoming like Jesus, which we think it ism and we’re wanting to grow as a church, then if Jesus ain’t freaking out over stuff – then perhaps he wants to teach us a few things.

For example, a few weeks ago we booked a holiday. First time ever we’ve been so organised. We found a lovely house in France. In the words of Peter Kay: we booked it, packed it.

We couldn’t believe what a great deal we’d got. Stunning place and we were so thankful. The kids were all excited.

The next day I get an email from the owner to say that he’d sold the house. It was written in a strange way and I immediately thought it was a phishing thing and our deposit had been pinched. As I’m reading the email a text from a friend arrived to say that her husband had had a heart attack.

I felt the storms brewing – somebody I respect dearly was ill. I thought I’d lost a deposit and a little voice, the inner critic that said ‘that whole nice house in France thing – that was never yours anyway – too good for you mate.’

In the storms, what I’m learning is, I have a choice.

Freak out and fix it – frantically find another house in France.

Or wait.

I prayed to God,