Fathers Day 2021
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost • Father’s Day, June 20, 2021
Job 38:1-11 • 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 • Mark 4:35-41
Why are you afraid? I love this story and the image of Jesus calming the storm. I also am grateful for the convergence of the scripture and today being Fathers Day. As is often said, there are no accidents. So I will weave these two threads together.
Many of us have fears, some big and some small. Some fears we feel comfortable discussing, others we may not. I have a pretty common couple of fears. I’m claustrophobic, which means I don’t do well in MRI machines or really crowded elevators, though with the pandemic I have not dealt with those in quite a while. I also have a fear of heights. Put it all together and I’m a very nervous flyer. Turbulence hits and bam, I’m saying my prayers to prepare for a crash! Take a moment and think of your own fears of whatever type. I have a good friend who is terrified of clowns. I did not know that was a think til he shared that with me.
Our dads were, perhaps, people who calmed our fears. (Of course, moms do, too, but this is Fathers Day after all). Anyway, I remember one time when my dad helped to calm my fears when I was already an adult. My sister, my dad and I had flown back to South Carolina sometime around Christmas. The day we were to fly out of the airport there was quite a winter storm coming in. As I found out later, we were the last airplane to be allowed to take off. Shortly after take off, we hit some of the worst turbulence I have ever experienced. I was squeezing my sisters hand (she would tell you I almost broke it.) And I was talking out loud about how scared I was. My dad started telling stories of when he flew during World War II. He described bad flights and bad weather he had been through. I think it was both the fact he had survived, but especially the calm voice that reassured me and kept me sane. Certainly, there were plenty of times when I was a kid that he made me feel protected and less afraid. Again, take a few moments and think of a time that your dad may have helped to calm your fears.
All of our fears could be compared to the storm that Jesus calmed in today’s gospel story. It had to be terrifying for the disciples when that storm struck. For me, the most important point is that Jesus is always in our boats with us. Maybe these days we are afraid or anxious about the future. We may be frightened by health issues, financial worries, whatever. Jesus is still saying, “Peace, be still.” The lesson does not end there, however. Each of us is called to be one who calms the storm for others. It may be for our children, for our spouses or family members or our friends. We are reminded that our words and actions can help our neighbors.
This coming week is the Nativity of John the Baptist. He is one of those figures who strikes me as fearless. He felt the presence of God with him in his daily life. The many saints in our calendar share that lived awareness of Christ being in their boats. Let us ask ourselves how we can grow in our own sense of trust in the Lord’s grace and protection. I sometimes use a mantra for myself, “Trust and believe, do not fear.” The words to that Jesuit song from the 1970’s also come to mind: Be not afraid, I go before you always. This morning as we come to receive the Eucharist, let us hear the voice of Jesus saying to us,” Peace, be still.”