Scripture Readings: Is. 9:8-19; 2 Corinth. 1:1-11; Mk. 4:35-41
Ընթերցուածքներ`Եսայ. Թ 8-19; Բ Կորնց. Ա 1-11; Մկ. Դ:35-41
In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen!
One day, a farmer who had grown elderly realized he needed help on his farm and so he decided to hire someone who would be able to help him and his wife. As he searched for someone strong, hardworking and trustworthy, during his interview process he would always ask “what special skill do you have that will make you stand out?” A young man who was lighthearted, kind and the respectful, whom the farmer liked, answer in a strange manner. “What special skill do you have that will make you stand out?”, asked the farmer. Thinking, the young man answered, “I can sleep through any storm.” The farmer was confused. He was looking for someone to help protect his farm especially during times of storm, and yet, this man says he can sleep through the storm. For some odd reason, though this answer confused him, because the farmer liked the young man and wanted to give him a chance, he hired him. And as the seasons moved on, the storms came in and the farmer looked for the young man to help. Yet, as the winds blew and rain poured down during a severe storm, the farmer and his wife, found the young man sleeping through the storm.
In the Gospel of Mark, we read the well-known story of the storm on the sea of Galilee. As panic ensued for the Disciples, they found Christ Jesus, sleeping through the storm. We know my dears that this event in scripture reveals to us several layers. One it teaches us, that storms will exist in our life; it teaches us that even if we are with God, the metaphorical storms of our life will cause us to fear, to be anxious and to look for help. It teaches us that perhaps sometimes, when we want God to help the way we think its proper, we feel as though He is distant, asleep, or uncaring as the disciples thought when they looked to Jesus in the storm. Yet, there is another layer my dears – our layer.
In the earlier story, when the farmer and his wife found the young man asleep during the storm, they also found that the storm shutters had been nailed down, the animals had been gathered, fed and with extra feed were calmly laying in their barn. They found the hay bales tightly stacked and put away; the trackers and tools all set in place. Flashlights, extra batteries, food, etc. all ready and prepared. The farmer understood what the young man’s special skill was. He could sleep through any storm, because his heart and mind were at ease because he was prepared for what could come. This is our layer my dears, our participation, our response, our “special skill” during the storms of our life.
As Christians, we know and believe with firmness that God does not abandon us. This confidence is what we call faith. That when Christ calls us to follow Him, He provides us with the means, the tools, the love, care and compassion which strengthens us and protects us. Life, salvation, healing and forgiveness has already by grace through Christ’s death on the Cross and Resurrection, been given to us. As baptized Christians we are heirs to this promise as St. Paul writes. However, we still have a part to play; we must respond to that promise. Our response however, is not just by coming to Church once a week, occasionally saying a prayer, having dinner with Der Hayr, or writing a check. Our response my dear brothers and sisters, is found in our preparation, in the time we spend polishing our “skill” which helps us “sleep” through the storms – this is called faith.
Faith therefore my dears, begins through preparation in how we come to Church. Do we come to learn, to grow, or to drink coffee and gossip? Our preparation is in understanding why we read our Scriptures, the writings of the Fathers, and live the practices of the Church. Do we read the Holy Scriptures, as St. Paul says in 2 Tim. 3:16 because – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Do we read the writings of saints for their experience and wisdom and do we learn the practices of the Church for our benefit. Or, do we read Scripture like a novel, informational, self-help motivation. Do we read the Church Father’s to argue against them, and do we attend the Church sacraments because that’s what a good Armenian does?
My dear brothers and sisters, preparation for the storms, for the temptation which will come, comes from first attending Church with an open heart, a desire to grow and learn. By active prayer, regardless of language barriers. By coming, confessing our need for God’s love and receiving Holy Communion. Our preparation comes from us regularly opening up our Holy Scriptures, reading prayerfully and with guidance from a priest. Breathing in the breath of God – the Astvadzashunch. Preparation my dears, comes from praying not with words only but from deep within our heart. From talking to our priest not just about festivals, and activities but about our own faith, our struggles and challenges.
My dears we all need to prepare! In our everyday tasks but also in our faith. Even as a priest, before Badarak (Divine Liturgy) I prepare. Yes, I wake up, brush my teeth and prepare for my day in the same manner we all do daily. However, prior to Divine Liturgy, there are prayers, and reflection I do for myself to prepare for my Communion with Christ. Yes, Badarak is prayer but we need to prepare for our prayerfulness. Why? Because most of us carelessly come to Church maybe a bit late, maybe angry, upset, hungry, etc. we come rushing in, and look at who’s here. We are praying but thinking about the game, the end of the weekend, the laundry at home. We pay more attention to what part of the Badarak we walked in and how much longer it will all be, rather than the words being raised up to God.
My dears, we all need preparation, because whether we are skilled farmer with years of experience, a student going to school, a priest coming to Church, a doctor meeting a patient, or a stranger walking down the street, preparation in life and especially in faith is what keeps us ready for when the storms, when the difficulties, the hurt, the rejection, the isolation and anxiety come. And storms will come my dears! Whether private storms of addictions, depression, hurt, rejection, or public storms such as broken communities, war, school shootings and other atrocities – storms will come. But God my dears has not and will not abandon us. He is not carelessly asleep in the back of the boat. Christ Jesus our Lord is with us every day, providing us with all that we need to learn and grow in our faith. How will we respond? How will we prepare for the storms that may come in our life?