First UCC Tucson

June 11, 2006

Matthew 14:22-33

1. I love Pentecost
1. Over and over talk about the Holy Spirit and how it fill us and calls us
2. Over and over talk about the practical ways in which we need God, rely on God find God in our lives
3. Over and over we are challenged to see the faith community and our places within it

• i. Doesn't take a prophet

• ii. Doesn't take genius

• iii. Doesn't take a son of God

• iv. It only takes folks who showed up…it didn't even require, knowing the language! God speaks so we might here if we're open to the space

1. Matthew's writing this in persecution times for the movement and the church
1. Especially for the leaders
2. The walking on water story
1. Scholars believe this isn't a literal event
2. Scholars believe this story is actually a post Easter story
3. The boat represents the church and the disciples those who make up the church
4. The waves and wind represent all those in opposition to the church, torturing its workers (like John, Paul, and many)
5. Jesus, the Messiah, the one we believe in, comes, emboldened by God's command, to shepherd his church out of crisis.
6. Peter, can't just see it, has to make it happen himself
7. Peter demonstrates how risky this faith is

• i. What do we see/feel waves and wind or Jesus?

1. Beautiful metaphor for our feasting
1. We live our lives as disciples between faith and doubt

• i. Doubt is a normal, natural experience of faith

• ii. Faith isn't a sure as science,

•  Faith speaks of realities beyond what we see and touch

•  Faith requires us to doubt

• iii. Grace gives us the opportunity to doubt and pray

• iv. What do we see the waves and wind or Jesus?

1. We are the people that believe in a story that isn't about gloom and doom
1. We are the Easter people
2. Jesus comes, in the midst of our crisis and gives us a hand to hold
3. Jesus comes, in the midst of the wind and waves and reminds us, I am here, do not be afraid
4. Jesus doesn't stop the wind, he only reassures Peter so Peter can calm his fears of the wind
2. This Pentecost season
1. Our little community can feel battered
2. Hard to grow a new thing
3. Hard to keep trying things and to follow up on others
4. Hard to see the thriving church in the midst of commitments, schedules, plans

• i. But how do we see our way through

• ii. What does Jesus hand look like for you?

1. This Pentecost season I pray we will thank God for all the hands up
2. This Pentecost season I pray we will recognize when we are the hand up
3. This Pentecost season I pray we will realize with our eyes focused on the witness of this boundary breaking Jesus, this barrier breaking Christ we are a thriving community of new life and hope
4. This Pentecost I hope we will renew our commitment to pray for the boat in the midst of this tumultuous sea, that we vision our thriving community full of those we ache to be in relationship with. If we see it, imagine it with God all things are possible! Let us pray.

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