Thinking of sick kiddies on Father’s day

The gospel reading today was about the Messiah sleeping in the boat while it was tossed in a storm on the sea of Galilee.

The twelve apostles, mostly fishermen, were in the boat with him. They were terrified.

The man of mystery, a carpenter, was fast asleep. The disciples woke him. They said to him “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38)

Why was he a man of mystery? Well, just consider what Mark says about Jesus before he tells of him asleep in the storm-tossed boat.

We read that Jesus subjected himself to baptism by John Baptist, and God declared Jesus was His son. He’d driven out spirits and healed many. He’d said he’s “Lord of the Sabbath.” Crowds had followed him. His family and teachers of the law thought he was out of his mind. He’d told many striking parables. He’d probably miraculously fed thousands by this time, multiplying a few fish and loaves. He was powerful, mysterious!

Yet, the disciples worried that he and they were going to drown. Even the seasoned fishermen turned to him in the storm. They were terrified.

As I heard the reading and the sermon which followed, preached by our Pastor, I thought of us, the family of God in Bangsar Lutheran Church.

It’s Father’s Day. I thought of the children in our flock, whose lives have been interrupted, made ‘abnormal’ by the pandemic restrictions.

I worried about them. Some of them were born during the movement restrictions. They’ve not been socialised like us, like other children. What effect will the isolation have on them emotionally, physically? Will they become anti-social? Will they be introverts? Will they be asthmatic? Then I remembered whom we belong to, and therefore, whom they belong to.

We’re on a boat, tossed by the waves. Life has always been so. It’s just more evident now. But do we remember that the Messiah is in the boat? I remembered the words we repeat at every celebration of the Lord’s Supper: “do this in remembrance of me.” We are a forgetful people. We need to remind ourselves and each other. We are not alone.

Not just that. We are children of God. Born “not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1: 13).

One of our kiddies scared us last week by his constant purging. He was tested. Diagnosed. Put on antibiotics. He’s on the road to recovery. We prayed and continue to do so.

Today we got news of another of our kiddies. He too is seriously ill. He appears to have allergies. He’ll be tested. We worry now for this one. We are praying.

But the word of encouragement remains. We’re in a boat, storm-tossed. There is one in the boat who is calm. So should we be. Because he’s all powerful, all-knowing, all-wise. We’re in good company, in good hands.

How wonderful it is to be in the family of God. Peace be with you.

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