Faith can be stronger than anxiety and fear.

26Jul
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him. “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
- Mark 4:35-41

Our dear Harriet Murrell, who is remembered so fondly, enjoyed giving tours of Trinity’s stained glass windows.  She shared her knowledge of the artists, the donors, and the Bible stories that were illustrated.  You never looked at the windows the same after the tour.  Her very favorite is found in the nave, “Jesus Calming the Waters”.  Lovely stained glass windows were intended to be instructive, especially in the early days. The incredible detail of apostles’ faces helps transcend time, taking us to the event.  We can easily imagine feeling terror, and then relief and awe.  Our Holy Comforter is calm and reassuring, then and now. 

The sea-faring, God-loving Dutch artists also help us experience John’s powerful passage.  “Jesus Calms the Storm” by Rembrandt shows fragile men caught between the great destructive forces of nature and the awesome powers of the divine.  Maybe nature doesn’t care but Jesus does.

During hurricanes I have fallen asleep praying and woken up praying.  I’m here, thank the Lord. But, of course, we weather greater storms than what nature throws our way. Faith can be stronger than anxiety and fear.  I hope we are all blessed with, “The peace that passes all understanding.”

Musical Reflection - Peace Like a River - Paul Simon

Holy Comforter, there is no peace like your peace - which even in times of storm we may rest in the knowledge that we are yours. Amen.
PeaceGospel
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#storms #peace #stainedglass

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