Weekly Bible Notes and Worship Resources
Ordinary 19 Year A
Introduction
To walk on water, you have to get out of the boat
I am reminded of the phrase 'you've got to be in it to win it.' The point is obvious, we will never achieve unless we participate. The flip side is that as well as achievement, we can also fail in our endeavours. Perhaps it is that fear of failure which prevents so many people from making the effort, and trying to make our dreams become reality. This is true of so many things, not least our willingness to serve God, to allow our talents to be used in his service. The Apostle Peter is a real example to us all, he made mistakes, he had failure in his life, yet he was prepared to have a go, and because of that Jesus called him 'the rock' the one he chose upon which to build his church. In the passage from Matthew today, Peter jumps out of the boat to meet Jesus. Whilst walking on water for a time he soon loses confidence and starts to sink. However we have to pay tribute to Peter because at least he had a go. The words of Theodore Roosevelt.
'It is not the critic who counts; not the one who points out hoe the strong stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the one who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly who errs and comes us short again and again; who knows great enthusiasm and great devotion; who spends him/herself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who, at worst, if he/she fails, at least fails while daring greatly. So that his/her place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.'
Opening Verses of Scripture Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Collect Prayer for the Day — Before we read we pray
Almighty God, who sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your Church: open our hearts to the riches of your grace, that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in love and joy and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. CW
Gracious Father, revive your Church in our day, and make her holy, strong and faithful, for your glory’s sake in Jesus Christ our Lord. CW
First Bible Reading Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of Canaan. This is the story of the family of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.
Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, ‘Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.’ He answered, ‘Here I am.’ So he said to him, ‘Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to me.’ So he sent him from the valley of Hebron.
He came to Shechem, and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, ‘What are you seeking?’‘I am seeking my brothers,’ he said; ‘tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.’ The man said, ‘They have gone away, for I heard them say, “Let us go to Dothan.“’ So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.’ But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, ‘Let us not take his life.’ Reuben said to them, ‘Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him’ – that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, ‘What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.’ And his brothers agreed. When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt. NRSV
Second Reading Romans Chapter 10:5-15
Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’ But the righteousness that comes from faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?”’ (that is, to bring Christ down) ‘or “Who will descend into the abyss?”’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say?
‘The word is near you,
on your lips and in your heart’
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ NRSV
Gospel Reading Matthew 14: 22-33
Immediately after feeding the crowd with the five loaves and two fish, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’
Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’ NRSV
Post Communion Sentence
Holy Father, who gathered us here around the table of your Son to share this meal with the whole household of God: in that new world where you reveal the fullness of your peace, gather people of every race and language to share in the eternal banquet of Jesus Christ our Lord. CW
Commentary
The story of Jesus walking on the water follows the story of
the Feeding of the Five Thousand. The two episodes make obvious an important
lesson for the disciples and for us. When faced with enormous difficulties
we are tempted to think that all is lost and we cannot cope. It is exactly
at that time that we must realise that we do not have to cope on our own.
Jesus is with us and even the most desperate situations are changed when we
place our trust in him.
Matthew wrote at a time when Christians were persecuted, the Apostle Peter
has most likely been crucified. The episode of the storm addressed issues of
danger, fear and faith. The boat seems to represent the church, buffeted by
temptations, trials and persecutions. Jesus however is the church's
champion, who is strong to save those who call on him in faith. The message
must have brought great comfort to the early Christians. While not spared
suffering and death, they were confident that Christ would save them even if
they were to die.
It is important to remember that the disciples encounter the storm, not
because they are rebellious or foolhardy, rather because they are obedient. The
difficulties that they experience on the sea are not of their own making,
but stem from their compliance with Jesus' command.
The disciples find themselves perhaps three miles out in the small boat, far
from shore, in a storm. In Biblical literature, the sea is often represented
as the abode of demonic forces hostile to God. In the Apocalypse, the final
reign of God will mean that the sea no longer exists (21:1) To have command
over the sea shows God’s triumph over evil. Jesus comes walking toward the
disciples on the sea. Matthew has identified Jesus as Emmanuel -- God with
us (1:23) -- and this story reinforces that role.
Matthew's church is weathering a storm of persecution. These Christians are
not in rebellion, but are faithfully serving God. The story of the disciples
on the sea, therefore, mirrors exactly the situation of Matthew's church. It
holds a promise that Jesus comes to Christians in the midst of the storm --
that the storm does not hold the upper hand -- that Christ is present with
us in the storm and redeems us from the storm.
When the disciples see Jesus, they are afraid. The storm, while dangerous,
is familiar. The disciples know what to expect from a storm and what to do
to keep the boat afloat. They do not know anything about men walking on
water far from land, and fear that they are seeing a ghost.
Jesus responds with a threefold statement: "Take heart, it is I; do not be
afraid."
Jesus uses the first phrase, "Take heart" (Greek: tharseite -- have courage
-- be of good cheer) elsewhere in this Gospel to hearten a paralytic (9:2)
and a woman with a hemorrhage (9:22). It is not a rebuke but an
encouragement.
The second phrase, "it is I" (Greek: ego eimi -- literally "I am") is God's
name (Exod 3:14).
The third phrase, Do not be afraid In this Gospel, an angel uses the third phrase, "do not be afraid" to
reassure Joseph (1:20) and the women at the empty tomb (28:5, 10). Jesus
uses it to reassure the Twelve as they go on their mission (10:26, 28, 31)
and the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration (17:7). Again, it is an
encouragement rather than a rebuke.
This story reassures Matthew's church that, even in the midst of
persecution, they need not fear -- Jesus is present with them. It offers the
same reassurance to us in times of illness, death, persecution, or other
troubles. It prepares us for times when things are going badly -- or well.
Adversity is not a sign of God's displeasure or prosperity a sign of God's
pleasure. Wealth does not equate to God's favour or poverty to lack of
favour. Illness is not a sign of inadequate faith or health a sign of great
faith. Jesus says that God "makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and
sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (5:45). Paradoxically, the
storms of life can be a means of blessing. When things are going badly, our
hearts are more receptive to Jesus. A broken heart is often a door through
which Christ can find entry. He still comes to us in the midst of our
troubles, saying, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."
Meditation
After just defeating 450 prophets of Baal, it is very embarrassing that
God’s best prophet Elijah is now hiding in a cave afraid of the murderous
enemy King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. . Now an angel has guided Elijah to Sinai
(Mt. Horeb), the same mountain where Moses met the Almighty.
At this moment of crisis God comes to Elijah but not with power and a
convincing display, rather in a still small voice. Not very exciting. But
isn’t that what life is like? we too look for God at times of crisis,
personal and communal. Where is God amid the chaos of the world? Are we not
entitled to hear something of the divine road, rather than a whisper? Yet we
who live by faith know that whilst God is imperceptible, yet he is present
to us. Elijah will have to call the people back to fidelity to God and the
covenant; to a faith not based on spectacles and signs of power, but on a
relationship of love and trust in God.
When people demanded signs of power from Christ, like storm, fire, wind and
earthquake, he refused to give them. Instead, he invited people to trust in
him even without instant relief and spectacle. Elijah got the message, he
set out on his difficult journey trusting God would support him and not
abandon him in his coming trials. As he went forward he would have to
continue to listen to the still voice of God within—just as all faithful
people must.
When we find ourselves withdrawing to a cave of fear, defeat, discouragement
or despair, we might draw the conclusion that we are all alone in our
struggle. Or, we can make the impossible leap of faith that says, “I believe
God is with me, even in the sound of silence.” It turns out, Elijah’s
fearful flight away from Ahab and Jezebel has set him back on the path to
absolute dependence on God. God has not abandoned him after all. God did not
given up on Elijah; Elijah did not give up on God, this is a lesson for us
all. Charles Royden
Should we fall, we should not despair and so estrange ourselves from the Lord's love...Let us always be ready to make a new start. If you fall, rise up. If you fall again, rise up again. St. Peter of Damaskos (12th century)
Hymns
Dear Lord and Father (Tune Repton)
How lovely on the mountains
Eternal Father (Tune Melita)
O God of truth and justice - Tune Thornbury
At the name of Jesus (Tune Camberwell)
O God of truth and justice
defender of the poor,
we trust your promise faithful,
your mercy ever sure.
Come not in fire or earthquake,
or sign of worldly power,
but let your gentle whisper
announce the hallowed hour!
2 When storms of life around us
condemn our hearts to fear,
then let the voice of stillness
compose the anxious ear,
and from our fears remake us
with faithful hearts and brave,
who, fixing on the Saviour,
may ride the threatening wave.
3 O give us grace to follow
where Christ himself has trod,
with gentle voice proclaiming
the perfect peace of God:
the promise of redemption
which first the fathers heard,
in Jesus Christ made perfect,
the co-eternal Word.
Michael Forster (born 1946)
© 1993 Kevin Mayhew Ltd
7 6 7 6 D Iambic Tune Thornbury
Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead
Prayer is a plant, the seed of which is
sown in the heart of every Christian,
if it is well cultivated and nourished it will produce fruit, but if it is neglected,
it will wither and die.
O God, whose glory the heavens are telling, the earth your power, the sea
your might, and whose greatness all the hosts of heaven proclaim; to you
belongs all glory, honour, majesty and praise; both now and for ever, and
to the ages of ages. Amen Liturgy of St James, 5th century
Living God, you have placed in the hearts of your children a longing for
your word and a hunger for your truth. Grant that, believing in the One
who you have sent, we may know him to be the true bread of heaven, your
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Cleanse our minds, O Lord we beseech thee, of all anxious thoughts for
ourselves, that we may learn not to trust in the abundance of what we
have, save as tokens of thy goodness and grace, but that we may commit
ourselves in faith to thy keeping, and devote all our energy of soul, mind
and body to the work of thy kingdom and the furthering of the purpose of
thy divine righteousness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Euchologium
Anglicanum
Additional Material
Opening Verse of Scripture—Romans 10:12
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord
of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on
the name of the Lord will be saved."
Collect Prayer for the Day—before we read, we pray
Living God, you have placed in the hearts of your children a longing for
your word and a hunger for your truth. Grant that, believing in the One
who you have sent, we may know him to be the true bread of heaven, your
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
First Bible Reading 1 Kings 19:9-18
There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD
came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He replied, "I have been
very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your
covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the
sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."
The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the
LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind
tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the
LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the
LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the
LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When
Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood
at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He replied,
"I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have
rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to
death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to
kill me too."
The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of
Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint
Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from
Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who
escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape
the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel-all whose
knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed
him."
Second Bible Reading Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of
him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had
dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When
evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable
distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against
it.
During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on
the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were
terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus
immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the
water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid
and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus
reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said,
"why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died
down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you
are the Son of God."
Post Communion Prayer
Lord of all mercy, we your faithful people have celebrated that one true
sacrifice which takes away our sins and brings pardon and peace: by our
communion keep us firm on the foundation of the gospel and preserve us
from all sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Commentary: Walking on Water
There are three accounts of the miracle of walking on water, in Mark 6,
John 6 and here in St. Matthew's Gospel. They represent three accounts of
essentially the same story.
After the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, the disciples have
gone on ahead of Jesus and a storm has arisen. The sea was traditionally a
place of terror for the Israelites - but one may suppose that while the
sea was rough it was not sufficiently rough to frighten those disciples
who had made a living on the water, unlike that other occasion in the
gospels when Jesus was asleep in the boat and the storm was so fierce that
they had to wake Him.
So while all three stories point out the difficulty of the crossing and
the sudden appearance of Jesus, all agree that the fact of Jesus coming
towards them "walking on the sea" was the cause of their fear. They did
not at first recognise Him. Their fear was the fear of all who face the
unknown, then as now. All three agree, however, that once they knew who it
was their fear subsided and they welcomed Jesus into the boat.
In both Mark's and Matthew's accounts the result is that the storm died
down, whereas in John's "they came immediately to land". As with all the
accounts of miracles we are faced with the question as to what we make of
it. At least one commentator has suggested that we have here a certain
development of the tradition in which the memory of the Risen One blends
with that of the earthly ministry of Jesus so that there is a bringing
together into the story something of the post resurrection appearances of
Jesus.
While we may have difficulties with the story, the early readers of the
gospels would not. This would have been a story of divine disclosure. For
them, it is God who walks on the face of the waters (Job 9:8) or strides
across the face of the waves (Psalm 77:19). So they would have sensed the
majestic claim inherent in the story. And the disciples' terror provides a
counterpoint to the story, contrasting the human with the divine and
underlining the importance of Jesus' words "Take courage! It is I. Don't
be afraid," words which echo God's promises recorded at the beginning of
Isaiah 43. And so the story reminds its readers that Jesus is more than
just a teacher. He is imbued with power, a presence which is both
delivering and calming. He is clothed with the very power of God.
And as is so often the case as we think about the stories in the gospels
we are brought face to face with a life which was markedly different from
that which most of us live and which had an impact beyond measure on his
contemporaries, and which challenges us in our turn.
And lest we think that it was easy for the disciples, St. Mark's final
words should give us occasion to think for he writes "...and the wind
dropped. At this they were completely dumbfounded, for they had not
understood the incident of the loaves; their minds were closed." So as we
in our turn reflect on this event among the other signs of Jesus' power,
we too need to make sure that our minds are not closed, not least to the
possibilities of sharing in that power which Jesus promised to all his
followers. John Stubbs
Meditation: Storms and Tempests
Every one knows how to be resigned amid the joys and happiness of
prosperity, but to be so amid storms and tempests is peculiar to the
children of God. - St. Francis of Sales
Hymns
See how great a flame aspires
Give me joy in my heart
Not far beyond the sea nor high
Be still for the presence of the Lord.
Who is on the Lord's side (Tune Rachie)
Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead
God our Father, we read of the commandment "do not kill" and think it doesn't apply to us because we don't take anyone's life. Yet there are times when we take life from others by cruel words, sarcasm, doing people down, and gossiping. Lead us to choose to bring life to others - and not death. Inspire us to break the cycle of whatever is negative or violent or evil whenever we encounter them. Let us not look for vengeance - to get our own back -but lead us to be generous and ready to conquer evil with goodness. Amen.
O God, you declare your almighty power most chiefly in showing mercy and pity: mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace, that we, running the way of your commandments, may receive your gracious promises, and be made partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.