Nov. 10, 2024 - Sustaining Faith

The Epistle Reading: Colossians 1: 1-23     
The Gospel: Mark 4: 39-40            

“Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” Jesus says to his disciples in the boat after he calms the storm with the words “Peace! Be Still!”

Did you notice that Jesus was sleeping in the midst of that turbulent storm? He wasn’t sleeping because he did not care. He was sleeping because he knew that this storm will pass, just as all the physical and metaphorical storms in our lives will pass, yet like the disciples, we often forget that and get caught up in the panic of the wind and rain. 

I find myself wondering if Jesus’ words, “Peace! Be Still!” were more for the wind or the disciples. In that moment in the boat, he calmed the wind first so that the disciples could hear him, because the wind was loud but more so because their fears were louder. They would not be able to hear what he said next if the storm was still raging. He needed them to be still, to find an inner peace to hear him. And when they were calmer, he asked the questions, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”

We, like the disciples, often forget that faith is our shield or maybe better yet, our favorite quilt, security blanket or Teddy Bear that provides warmth and comfort through the storms of life. There will be storms, but faith, like the Teddy Bear hugged by a frightened child, provides reassurance to help us be still, catch our breaths, and find God’s peace and love even in the middle of the storm. 

A belief system rooted in the idea that no storms will come because of faith, is a shallow one indeed. It likely will not survive life’s first storm let alone the many others that will follow. 

Those who preach the Prosperity Gospel that your faith in God will result in health, wealth and all things perfect, did not pay enough attention to Jesus. When did Jesus ever seek wealth? When did he promise that life would be easy? He did seek justice, he did seek to help others and encouraged us to do the same. But Jesus also wanted the disciples and us to have a strength through faith that would sustain us through the inevitable storms that life will bring. A faith that recognizes that God is bigger than the problems of this world. A Faith that believes in hope, mercy and resurrection. Our faith is our strength, as Paul reminds us. 

As Paul reaches out to the Colossians to encourage them in their faith, he does not say that their faith will make life perfect. Instead, he offers prayers for them and a formula for faith:

1. He prays that they have the strength that comes from Jesus.
2. He then prays that they will be prepared to endure everything in life with patience. 
3. He reminds them that despite life’s challenges, they should joyfully give thanks to God for this strength and patience. He also reminds them that they should be grateful for forgiveness for when they are not strong or patient or kind or hopeful. 

In other words, he was telling the Colossians and us, to follow Jesus’ model.  Thinking of all that Jesus endured even through death on the cross, that is a pretty incredible example of strength and endurance. His ministry was one of patience because even his own disciples did not always get him. And even as he was dying on the cross Jesus said, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” 

Sustaining our faith takes work. Sustain is a verb, an action. It means we have to work to remind ourselves that we have a foundation of strength or maybe even to build or strengthen our foundation of faith. 

Just as buildings in California and other earthquake prone areas are now often made to move with the shaking earth but not be shattered by it, so must we firmly root ourselves in the strength and patience and love of Christ to know that the winds, rains, and quakes of life will jostle us but they will not destroy us. Like the 80’s toys Weebelos, we wobble but we don’t fall down. We have faith and hope to hold us. 

This week many people feel like they are wobbling, but those of us with faith should look to that faith which gives a long view beyond any present challenges. There is much to be concerned about in the world from the devastating impacts of climate change, war, famines, violence, divisiveness, discrimination, vengeance, and hatred. It would be easy to fall over under that burden but faith in the God who has been there through all of our human history of war, violence, struggle and suffering reminds us that this too shall pass and to do our part to as Micah reminds us in 6:8:  "seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God."

We exercise our faith by walking with God. That means following Jesus’ example by, as we say in our mission, “Striving to live God’s message of inclusive love through Jesus Christ in our community, nation, and world.” 

Paul reminds us that “Jesus is the image of the invisible God.” That image, that model is love. Love for tax collectors and prostitutes, rich and poor, sick and healthy, those of different faiths, nationalities, races, gender identities, economic classes, abilities, political parties, and so on. Jesus modeled love for all, not just those who are like us. 

Sustaining our faith means practicing love and hope especially in challenging times. It is ok when storms come to be upset, fearful, even angry at times. Feel the feelings, they are natural too, but do not dwell in them. Let those feelings wash over you, then take a deep breath and as we sang earlier, breathe in peace - God’s peace and breathe out love. This world needs more love and Jesus was trying to show us that over 2000 years ago and is still trying to show us that today. 

We cannot be instruments of God’s peace and love until we center peace and love in our bodies. We have to step back from times of crisis and struggle and re-center with those deep breaths. Or maybe you, like I often do, need to walk through the struggle to get outside and physically move your body through the frustration and anger and in the pumping of your legs and the swinging of your arms, and the heavy breathing, you release some of the negative energy, leaving room for the positive: leaving room for the reminders of God’s presence through all of life’s challenges and our ability to connect to God through our faith in a way that will sustain us. Maybe in that walk our eyes are opened to the beauty of the mountains, a sunset or some of God’s creatures like the Pileated Woodpecker I saw on my walk yesterday morning that caused me to stop, smile and say Wow! Thanks God!  These little gifts of beauty are God’s reminders that the world goes on and so should we. We are Easter people; we always have hope!

Sustaining our faith means doing what we need to do whether that is meditation, walking, writing, reading scripture, praying or all of the above to face the world with hope when life is challenging. That allows us to be still enough to feel God’s peace. When we find our peace, our job is to follow Jesus’ model of spreading love. 

When love meets hate, hurt, and suffering in the world, seeds of hope are planted. We water the seeds with faith and warm them with the light of service -working towards peace and justice: never giving up no matter how challenging the storm. 

As Paul reminded the Colossians, “ You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.”

It is our job as Christians to follow Christ’s model by planting the seeds of hope, helping them bear the fruit of love. That is how we sustain our faith and also how our faith sustains us. Amen.

Pastor Michelle Fountain

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