Dear Saints in Santa Fe, and other far-off places—
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, who told four of his disciples they should go “across to the other side” in Mark 4:35-41, our scripture for this Sunday.
What does this mean, “the other side”?
When I hear that phrase, my mind immediately goes political and all the wrangling between sides. Might the gospel writer have had that in mind in his day and we are supposed to reach out to those who think differently than we do?
Somewhere Over the Rainbow was voted the best song of the 20th century. How we long for a place filled with color and light and harmony rather than the reality we often experience daily? Could “the other side” be a place we long for where life seems better, where all people and animals are treated right, where we use our land wisely and sustainably?
Now, I am thinking about what happened to me last weekend when I planned to return from my annual check-up at Cleveland Clinic in time for Sunday worship, but an engine failed after we were all buckled in and ready to pull away. Four hours later my plane from Cleeland was on its way to Las Vegas where I missed my connection to Albuquerque by 15 minutes, which then led to an overnight stay in a hotel/casino. I was flying to the other side of the country which turned out to be an “other side” of life I have no desire to ever be in again.
I wonder if such a place was this “other side” for Jesus, a place out of step with Jesus’ values, and foreign in a myriad of ways?
Still, remarkably and wonderfully but not surprisingly, after many phone calls and texts that night and early Sunday morning with slot machines in the background, you all stepped up and stepped in at the last moment to fill in the places I would have been. I understand it was a good and special morning. I am most grateful to you.
Now, I’m thinking about the mustard seeds still sitting on my desk, ready to be given out last Sunday. I worked on the sermon while I was away and was excited about what we might do with these tiny mustard seeds.
How many seeds still sit on desks and never get planted? How many seeds are not being planted today that would change the world in some distant tomorrow? Maybe seeds were planted years ago on this “other side,” and it is now a place where all the world, and all that is in it, is thriving.
In the story which immediately follows the Mustard Seed, four of his disciples, experienced sailors all, get in a boat one evening with Jesus. Soon a raging storm arises, which was not unusual on the Sea of Galilee, and the terrified disciples see Jesus sleeping and cry out with great alarm that they are perishing. A few moments later, Jesus awakes, tames the sea with “Peace, be still,” the sea is calm again and the disciples saved.
Great story. Great ending. Still, it’s hard to imagine, isn’t it, with all the storms raging today, that the seas can be calm again, that life can be calm again? These and other stories across scripture ask us to imagine such a world. O God, help us to imagine. Help us to imagine a journey to the other side.
Grace and peace,
Harry