ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 21, 2022
The class on Dr. Amy-Jill Levine’s book, Signs and Wonders, has continued to be a source of great delight (outside of a technology glitch on Tuesday). This week, we looked at the story of Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4). I think the go-to reading for most people is a sort of prayerful wish that God (Jesus) will calm the storms of life. But like so often, Dr. Levine provided another (in fact, she provided more than one) perspective — one that emphasized Jesus asleep in the boat as the storm was tossing the boat back and forth. People are most interested in Jesus waking up and calming the storm, but what follows sure sounds like a frustrated Jesus. He asks the disciples, “Why were you afraid?” And then he asks, “Have you still no faith?” The word “faith” could also be translated as “trust.” Imagine you are an individual hearing Mark’s Gospel for the very first time. The year is 72 AD, and the Romans have destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. Many of the Apostles, those who followed Jesus most closely, have died. A majority of them were murdered by the Romans because of their faith. That’s a storm of fear, with winds of consternation. The miracle may not have been Jesus calming the storm, but Jesus sleeping (a symbol of absolute trust) in the boat during the storm. For those in Mark’s audience, the question seems to be: Will you trust God no matter how bad the storm? Do you believe, no matter what, God will not let you go—whether in life or in death? I so appreciate Dr. Levine (she wants us to call her AJ) revealing another layer of this story.
May I trust in you, O God, and your love that is beyond measure. So strengthen my resolve that, no matter how bad the storms, I will not forget how you have claimed me as one of your beloved. Amen.
