Tuesday, July 1, 2025
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Terror
Jesus awoke and stood up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”
 …
The sun was just rising over the earth.
At the same time the LORD rained down sulphurous fire
upon Sodom and Gomorrah out of heaven.
They brought it on themselves. Don’t we all? But the terror of these city dwellers is matched by that of the disciples in the boat with Jesus. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away – blessed be the name of the Lord.
We must pray! The followers of Jehovah have reminded each other to pray since the beginning because they are afraid. Perhaps God will relent and spare us from the logical consequences of choosing our own version of good and evil rather than a just God’s good. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
Our liturgies imply dissatisfaction with ourselves and uncertainty about God. What will He do this time? In his infinite mercy he casts our sin as far as the east is from the west. Or does he? How often does he need to prove his love for us? Can we really trust him, even we have no reason to trust ourselves?
Lot’s wife looked back and she was turned into a pillar of salt.
Don’t look back! James wrote that we must not doubt, or our prayers will go unheard. Don’t look back, don’t do it, don’t! Just … don’t think about it! There is no fear in love. Abandon your terror and relax in the arms of the one who holds you and will never let you go. Run from fear, not from love! And run not from death, because death has lost its sting and its killing brings only new life. But not fear. Fear holds all the cards. Fear kills.
Search me, O LORD, and try me;
test my soul and my heart.
For your mercy is before my eyes,
and I walk in your truth.
Gather not my soul with those of sinners.
Now even in my next breath I know I’m a sinner just like them. My hands touch crime, fascinated, my right hand reaches out for the offered bribe. What could it hurt?
O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.
Psalm 4 appears in my mind. I lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. And Psalm 3. I lie down and sleep, and I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands assailing me on every side. There is no fear in love, this love of God which surpasses all understanding.
At the start of Matthew 8 a man with leprosy left his lonely exile and came to Jesus. “Lord, if you are willing …” In the throes of the Holy Spirit this man’s fear left him. Jesus knew this, and the leper was healed. Now at the end of the chapter the disciples in the boat, who have seen so much truth made manifest as miracle, cannot contain their fear and awaken their master. No matter that they were weak, Jesus silenced the storm.
The freedom from fear and doubt that God offers – indeed insists on – is there for me, as for the leper, as for the panicked disciples. So … just open my fist, reach out my hand, and receive.
(Genesis 19, Psalm 26, Psalm 130, Matthew 8)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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