Views From The Pews – Pentecost 2 (Proper 7), Sunday, June 22, 2025

Brothers & Sisters,

The Collect and the Gospel Reading for today set before us some very important truths about human life on planet earth, and I welcome this opportunity to draw them to your attention.

The first lesson is expressed in the opening words of the collect in graphic language, “Storms rage about us.”  There is no escape from the storms of life and they manifest themselves to each and every one of us in many and varied ways For some parents and teachers and children the most significant storm will be the  placement of the children following the results of the PEP, CXC and other external examinations.  True enough, it will  not be a storm for everyone for many will be rejoicing, but for many others it will be  a storm of major unexpected misplacements and so as Christians we cannot afford to be insensitive to those who are in distress.   But storms are no respecters of persons, so it can be a helpful exercise for us to name our storms today.

The second lesson is that the raging storms “cause us to be afraid.”   Using the exams mentioned above as an example, the concerns that have been expressed by parents and teachers are troubling for it is clear they do not consider themselves to have the resources to cope with the situation.  The Ministry of Education does not have the resources either to satisfy everyone.   Imagine striving for a placement in one of the fancied traditional high schools, and then finding oneself placed in a poorly performing school in a different social and cultural environment.  

The third lesson is that our fears cause us “to doubt that anyone cares.”  The words of the disciples to Jesus have been re-echoed over and over again, sometimes addressed to family, sometimes to governments, sometimes to church, and sometimes to God, “Do you not care if we perish?”   It is a perfectly natural question in a panic situation.  The fact is that panic limits our vision, and so we fail to see the bigger picture.  Jesus did not share their panic, but listened to their doubts and fears and acted to change the situation.

The fourth and final lesson is the declaration, “Peace, be still!”  In life’s troubling situations, we are invited to learn that God in Christ has the resources for bringing peace into turbulent lives in a turbulent world.  As Christ did it for his disciples in the story before us, so he promises to do for us over and over again if we will but learn to trust him.  We are called to exercise a child-like trust in God, so that like children we can confidently sing, “With Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm!”  Contributed!