February 2, 2003

Fourth Sunday of Epiphany

Mark 1:21-28

 “Rebelling Against Authority?”

     Seventeen years ago, Kay and I heard about the explosion of the Challenger space shuttle while attending a pastor’s conference in Pennsylvania.  It was about this time of the year if I remember correctly.  I still remember the sinking feeling I felt when the news settled in.  I remember it because I felt that same feeling yesterday when I heard the news of the explosion of Columbia.  Perhaps you felt it, too.

     We may not know any of the seven astronauts personally, but when something like this happens it can feel personal just the same.  Perhaps that’s because we invest our hopes and dreams in those who push the envelope of exploration.  Pioneers are our heroes.  When tragedy strikes them down, some of our hopes and dreams die with them.

     Of course, more than a hundred shuttle missions have made space flight seem rather commonplace, but we still know there are great risks involved.  It is remarkable that there have been so few accidents.  Thousands of highly skilled people are involved behind the scenes with each shuttle flight to assure risks are minimized, but always there are factors beyond the control of even the best computers and the best engineers and technicians. 

     Factors beyond our control…we are reminded of this when things go wrong.  Try as we might, we are never completely in control.  Ultimately, only God is in control, only God is the ultimate authority.  God can make the unbearable bearable, the unbelievable believable, the hopeless hopeful, the uncontrollable controllable.  God can handle what we can’t.  When tragedy reminds us how fragile we are, how powerless we are, we can still be OK because our loving God still remains in control.

     Perhaps we are feeling especially powerless because there is so much tragedy in our world right now.  U.N. weapons inspectors give troubling reports, a finger seems to be on the hair-trigger of war, North Korea pulls their nuclear material out of storage and now this accident.

     There is much beyond our control in life, in our jobs, in our homes, in ourselves.  Without a God in whom we can trust, without a Savior on whom we can depend, where would we be but lost?  “Come to me all who are heavy laden,” said Jesus, “and I will give you rest.”  And Psalm 40: “Blessed are those who make the Lord their trust.”

     The Gospel lesson this morning reminds us who is in control when life seems out of control.  It’s a strange and frightening story of a tormented soul and demons crying out at the “Holy One of God”.  The timing of this story is important.  Early in Mark’s Gospel, just halfway into the first chapter, it sets a precedent, clearly establishes where the authority lies.  When life is strange and frightening, God through the Holy One is still in control.  Jesus needs only speak, “Be silent, and come out of him!“ and demons disappear.  Peace at last.  Healing.  Years of torment, over.  Just seven simple words.  God, through the Holy One, clearly in charge.

     Communion embodies this truth.  Bread and juice remind us of tragedy, but also victory.  Jesus suffered and died, completely lost control of his mortal life, losing flesh and blood, but even his death pointed to God’s ultimate authority over all things.  God was in control.  In God’s hands, death became life.  Destruction became resurrection.

     So it is for all who place their trust in God. 

 “And God will lift us up on eagles’ wings,

Bear us on the breath of dawn,

 To shine upon us like the sun,

And hold us in the palm of God’s hand.”