Third Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 7B), June 25, 2006

BCP: Job 38:1-11,16-18; Psalm 107:1-32 or 107:1-3,23-32; 2 Cor. 5:14-21; Mark 4:35-41 (5:1-20).

RCL: 1 Sam. 17: (1a,4-11,19-23),32-49 or Job 38:1-11; Psalm 9:9-20(optionally with 1 Sam. 17:57-18:5,10-16) or 107:1-3,23-32; 2 Cor. 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41.

In the traditional language of Rite I, the opening petition of the collect of the day for this Sunday asks God to “make us have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name.” The contemporary version alters both the order and language of this request, so that our prayer becomes an asking for “perpetual love and reverence.” While we may incline not to consider this alteration to be very significant, it would seem that the use of the older language might lead us to a prayerful consideration of how the experience of fear can become an opportunity to rely on God’s providence and respond in faith. Several of the readings appointed for this day speak of such fear and faithful response.

The verses from the 17th chapter of 1 Samuel include the familiar story of David’s battle with Goliath. The initial challenge of the Philistine champion to the men of Israel provoked fear. God’s response to this was to provide for an unlikely hero, a youth with stones and sling whose confidence is that “the Lord saves not with sword and spear … and he will give you into our hand.” In this faithful assurance, David prevails and delivers the people of Israel from the terror of their enemies.

Psalm 107 recounts God’s deliverance of his people from various other fearful situations. The verse, “They cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress,” recurs as a refrain and expresses the vulnerability of the troubled and God’s constant merciful response. Faithfully trusting in his mercy inspires our response of thanks and praise.

The story from the shorter reading of the gospel, included in both lectionaries, is that of Jesus quieting a storm on the sea. The terror of the disciples is obvious in their cry when they awaken the sleeping Lord, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” Jesus calms the threatening winds and waves and the response of the disciples to the Lord’s providential care as he challenges them to have faith is wonder and reverence.

Christ is also able in his mercy to calm the storms within our spirits. The longer gospel passage includes the account of the deliverance of the man disturbed by “an unclean spirit.” God in mercy relieved his fearful suffering so that he could come to the response of faith and proclaim the good news of how the Lord had shown him mercy.

Living in a time in which we know the pervasive threat of terrorism, a time in which we have seen the devastation of catastrophic storms, a time marked by stress in daily life, it is natural we should experience fear and distress. God’s mercy and loving kindness are needed to provide us, too, with the care and comfort for which we long.

Look It Up

Read Matthew 6:26-33. Who is the disciple of Jesus to legitimately fear?

Think About It

How do we reconcile our belief that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10) with the scriptural teaching that “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18)?

Next Sunday

Fourth Sunday of Pentecost (Proper 8B), July 2, 2006

BCP: Deut. 15:7-11; Psalm 112; 2 Cor. 8:1-9,13-15; Mark 5:22-24,35b-43.

RCL: 2 Sam. 1:1,17-27 or Wis. 1:13-15, 2:23-24 or Lam. 3:21-33; Psalm 130 or 30; 2 Cor. 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43.