Reflection: Sunday 9th August - The Tenth after Trinity - and for the week ahead:
Scripture:
Then Jesus instructed the disciples to get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the crowds. After he sent them away, he went by himself up on the mountain to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from the shore, battered by waves and a strong wind.
During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water they were terrified, and they cried out in their fright, “It is a ghost!” But Jesus immediately spoke to them, saying, “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
Peter anwered, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you across the water.” He said, “Come!” Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward Jesus. But when he realized the force of the wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught hold of him, saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those in the boat fell to their knees in worship, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-33
Reflection:
There are periods of calm in our lives, times of thankfulness and consolidation; there are periods of turbulence, of hurt, disappointment and grief; there are times of renewal, when we realise that the pain doesn’t hurt so much anymore, when hope and joy return.
Through these seasons, these changes in the weather of our lives, in the calm and in the storm, Jesus is walking with us, ‘Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid.’ When we feel at sea; when we feel like a storm battered boat; when we need to make changes in our lives that require the courage to get out of the boat, or when change happens to us unexpectedly and we feel we are sinking, he is present to encourage us ‘Come’, or to reach out his hand in love to sustain us. We don’t face the storm alone.
The prayer of a Breton fisherman:
‘O God, the sea is so wide, and my boat is so small:
Be good to me.’
Sarah Emanuel
Rector: Revd David Commander is the Rector of the Benefice of Benenden and Sandhurst. He originally trained and worked as a Chartered Mechanical Engineer for 28 years. He served his curacy at St James's, Tunbridge Wells, before moving to Benenden in October 2013. He and his wife, Helen, have two daughters, two grandsons, a grandaughter, and an extremely friendly dog, Barney.
Associate Priest: Though she was born in London, Rev. Rosemary Kobus van Wengen has spent most of her adult life abroad, teaching in schools and universities in Uganda and The Netherlands. She was ordained in 2001 in Canterbury Cathedral, and since then has served as a non-stipendiary priest (now ‘retired’, with Permission to Officiate) in Benenden and Sandhurst. Besides a passion for parish ministry her interests include art and literature, handwork and gardening. rosemaryvanwengen@gmail.com