4th Sunday After Trinity

Readings: Job 38v1-11; Psalm 107v1-3 & 23-32; 2 Corinthians 6v1-13; Mark 4v35-end.

Let us pray: May the words of my mouth, and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

A Word: In ancient times, people believed that when bad things happened in life that it was God who was doing it and that God was punishing them for the bad things they had done. The book of Job tells us a very different story because it tells us about a Godly man who suffers terrible things done to him by the devil, named Satan, who is trying to force Job to rebel against God. However, even though Job has no idea why God has allowed him to suffer so much, Job continued to trust in God, but even though Job trusted God – Job did cry out to God asking why all these terrible things were happening to him. Eventually, as we hear in the reading, God spoke to Job; but God’s reply was not what Job expected. For, instead of explaining why Job suffered, God tells Job to: stand up, pull yourself together and listen; before going on to ask the most unexpected of questions. Questions that pointed Job to stop focussing on his suffering and to look to the wonder of God who created all things. This is such an extraordinary reply that I believe points us to what we should do in times of suffering and in the book as a whole we are taught that when we suffer it is not God who is causing it, nor is it a punishment for something we have or have not done. It is simply part of life here on earth, a place where Satan roams around causing problems and troubles to trip us up.

What we also learn from this book is that it is okay to run to God to cry, to complain and to ask God to help us. However, miracles that rescue us will not always be provided. For as Paul says in his letter to the people in Corinth, even though we may suffer in all sorts of ways here on earth, we should not be despondent because we have a God who we can call on in our time of need. Then, as we call, God draws close to us and comes alongside us in order to help us to bear with the suffering and get through it.

Sometimes God does give us miracles, like that in the gospel of Mark. For whilst out on the lake, these experienced fishermen found themselves in a terrifying storm that was so bad they thought they were about to die, so they turned to Jesus and asked him to save them. Jesus got up from sleeping and did as they asked by ordering the wind and the waves to calm down and cease what they were doing – and the storm ceased immediately and completely. Afterwards, when Jesus asked why they were afraid, the disciples only answer was to wonder just who Jesus was because he was able to command the wind and the sea.

It is no wonder that since ancient times that people who have believed and trusted in God have given thanks and praise to God. Like in psalm 107, which tells us that God hears the prayers of people in all kinds of troubles, and the part of the psalm appointed for today reminds us that people who worked out at sea understood the dangers they faced, put their trust in God and gave thanks that God heard their prayers and led them safely back to harbour.

Today, we are called to do the same. To understand that troubles do not come from God and are not a punishment. We are also called to turn to God at times of trouble and to hold on to God who is with us. Then, whatever God chooses to do in reply to our cries, we need to give God thanks and praise.

Let us pray: Day by day dear Lord, of you three things we pray: to see you more clearly, to love you more dearly and to follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen

Thank you for joining us.