Love in Action

Matthew 14:22-33

8^th Sunday after Pentecost / August 7, 2011

Jesus had just learned that his cousin John was dead.  He was brutally murdered by Herod because Herod had promised to do anything the daughter of Herodias asked for.  And Herodias wanted John the Baptist’s head on a platter.  It is hard to conceive of such a lack of respect for life.  Herod abused the power of his office by taking a life in order to save face – this deeply disturbs me.  John’s disciples must have been heavy with grief and shock when they came to Jesus to share the news of this horrific death.

When Jesus heard this terrible news, he withdrew by boat to a deserted place by himself.  Jesus needed time alone to grieve and pray.  We understand this need for space and time alone – space and time for raging and crying and praying – space and time to begin the process of healing.  And yet, when Jesus reached the deserted place he discovered that the crowds had gone ahead of him on foot.  When he got on shore there were people everywhere, and Jesus – despite his grief – “had compassion for them and cured their sick” (v. 14). 

Setting aside his need to be alone, Jesus moved through the crowds, talking to the people, listening to their concerns, and praying with them.  Setting aside the deep fatigue that accompanies grief, he laid hands on them, healing them and restoring them and making them whole.  Despite – or perhaps because of – his deep sadness, he showed compassion for the crowds who had followed him to the other side of the lake.  This is love in action. 

When it was evening, after many hours of being with the people and many prayers for healing, the disciples informed Jesus that the crowds were hungry.  The disciples suggested that Jesus send the crowds away, to go to the villages to buy food.  What a good idea – finally some time alone – an evening off.  But instead, Jesus fed the crowd of more than five thousand with five loaves and two fishes.  As the crowds sat on the grass, Jesus took these few loaves and, blessing them, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to share with the crowds.  No one went hungry that day.  This impromptu feast is love in action.

Now, finally, Jesus dismisses the crowds and makes his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side.  Now, finally, Jesus is able to go up on the mountain by himself to pray.  We aren’t given any insight into Jesus’ prayers on that long night, but knowing John had died so brutally I can’t help but wonder if he recalled John’s often-repeated words: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  We know Jesus, like John, longed for people to turn away from sin and evil, and turn toward God’s kingdom of love and forgiveness.  Perhaps Jesus prayed the prayer he taught his disciples: “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  It seems likely that his prayers were kingdom prayers; after all, his actions all day had been kingdom actions. Healing the sick, feeding the hungry, showing compassion – love in action. 

It is interesting that even as Jesus sought time alone on that long night, he knew the boat the disciples were in was being battered by the waves, and the wind was against them.  From his mountaintop retreat, Jesus could see his disciples, tossed to and fro by the waves, and he had compassion.  Early in the morning, around 4 a.m., Jesus left his mountaintop retreat and walked out across the waves toward the boat – toward those twelve he loved so deeply.  The disciples were good fishermen, certainly accustomed to rough seas; they would have made it to shore.  And Jesus could have simply stilled the wind and the waves with a word, as he had before, meeting them on the other side the next day.  But love in action happens through human contact and personal conversations – Jesus reveals his love by being with the people.  Jesus reveals his love by showing up in all the circumstances of life.

Jesus shows up where people are sick and hungry.  And Jesus shows up where people are tossed to and fro by the waves of life.  Jesus even shows up in places we would least expect to see him.  Certainly on that early morning before dawn in the midst of a storm that tossed the boat back and forth no one expected to see Jesus.  The disciples – who were not afraid of the storm – were suddenly terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!”  What else would show up at that hour in that place but some sort of ghost?  Jesus immediately responds, “Take heart! It is I; do not be afraid!”  He had not come to scare them but to comfort and strengthen them in the midst of their fatigue.  The disciples must have been worn and weary after the startling events of the day and a long night on the water.  “Take heart! It is I; do not be afraid.”  Jesus is encouraging them – take heart! Jesus is reminding them that they have nothing to fear because God – the great I Am – is present with them.  This is love in action.  “I am here – I am with you – do not be afraid.”  What good news!

And yet, Peter – Peter who denies Jesus – Peter who becomes the rock on which the church is built – this very same Peter questions Jesus.  “If it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  I wonder if Jesus laughed – laughed that Peter would question Jesus in a way that put Peter in danger.  Peter wants to walk on water – stormy, wind-blown water.  I wonder if Jesus laughed the way we laugh at our children when they want to do something that requires a great deal of bravery and we delight in their desire to try a new thing.  Peter.  Faithful, foolish Peter.  Love in action says, “Come!”  Love in action says, “Even if you fail I applaud your courage.”  Love in action holds out a hand, ready to lift Peter from the water if he takes his eyes off Jesus.

Of course, the wind and the waves startle Peter and he looks away from Jesus.  As he begins to sink into the water Peter cries, “Lord, save me!”  And Jesus immediately reaches out his hand to catch Peter and they get into the boat.  Jesus catches us when we look away – when we fall – when we doubt.  Jesus reaches out a hand to hold us when we cry for help.  Jesus is not upset by our doubt or our fear – no.  Rather he affirms Peter’s faith – even if it is only a little faith – as he helps Peter into the boat.  This is love in action.

Love in action.  Love revealed through curing the sick and feeding the hungry.  Love revealed when Jesus shows up in the midst of our most challenging days.  Love revealed when Jesus pulls us up as we fall.  Love revealed in creation as God formed us in God’s image and breathed into us the breath of life.  Love revealed through the psalmist and the prophets – the love of a God who holds us in the palm of His hands.  Love revealed most powerfully on a cross – when Jesus gave up everything for us – for you and for me – so that we might know just how deep His love is for us.  Love revealed through the body of Christ – the community of the faithful gathered in worship and scattered to serve.  Love revealed at this Table where we glimpse the kingdom of heaven breaking in as we hold out our hands to receive the gift of the broken body of Christ. This is God’s love in action.

How does God invite us to respond to this incredible love – this abundant grace?  Let me suggest three faithful responses.  First, show up.  The five thousand followed Jesus to the other side of the lake – they showed up expecting to see Jesus.  Those who were present witnessed many miraculous healings.  Those who were present were fed by five loaves and two fish.  Show up and watch and listen – you may well see love in action.  Second, worship God.  Those who were in the boat and witnessed Jesus walking on water fell down and worshipped Him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”  Worship the Creator of the universe who knew you and loved you before you were formed in your mother’s womb.  Worship the Lord who walked among us in the flesh and is still powerfully present today through his Word and Holy Spirit.  Worship God with all your being – you may well experience love in action.  Third, have the courage to get out of the boat and test the waters.  Trust that Jesus will catch you if you fall as you boldly seek to follow Him.  Trust in God and do not be afraid to heal the sick and feed the hungry, and sit with those who are grieving and visit those who are discouraged and weary, and work with those who need a hand up.  Get out of the boat and live a life of love in action.

Love in action.  Show up and see love in action; worship God and experience love in action; and, get out of the boat and live love in action.  Love in action sometimes calls us to action when we’d rather be alone – even when we are grieving ­­– and yet love in action always calls us into a deeper relationship with God. Love in action invites us to be a part of a community; love in action invites human contact and personal conversations.  Love in action often moves us out of our comfort zones, leading us to build relationships with others.  Love in action is our faithful response to the love of God – and through loving God we more faithfully love our neighbors.  See and experience and participate in God’s love in action in all the ordinary places of our lives – and watch the kingdom of heaven come near.