by Barry Pollard
(Based on Mark 4:35-41; I Sam 17:1-50; Ps 9:9-20)
There are many useful tools that we can access to keep us abreast of the world in almost every way, even to the point of being able to run our business remotely, if we choose.
Last weekend we were in Wellington, the nation’s capital, famous around the globe for the fact that it has the highest average wind speed of any city anywhere (according to Air New Zealand). In preparing for the trip Keri researched how one travels on public transport in the Windy City. If you don’t know, they use a prepaid ‘Snapper’ card that you use by tapping on when you board your transport and tapping off on leaving. The trip cost is deducted each time. A great system that the city has great faith in!
We learned that when you travel at weekends and off-peak, the fares are ridiculously low. We travelled from the city centre to Otaki, a small town once driven-through as part of SH1, a distance of 73 kilometres away, on a train and bus for less than $16 return. We too developed faith in their transport system!
As great as their transport system is, there was a downside. If you don’t have a decent knowledge of a system you are at a disadvantage. On our last day of travelling across and around the city we noticed an older woman simply flashing her Super Gold Card at the conductor, receiving a ticket, paying no money and travelling free. The next ride, I tried mine and it worked! I could have been travelling the whole time with the most ridiculous low fare, zero!
These experiences, along with things I had been reading and browsing, have had quite an impact on my reflection this morning.
Being a relatively diligent bloke I started work on this reflection on the 14th of May, knowing that we were likely travelling out of and around the country in June. I started by reading and reflecting on the Scriptures set down in the Lectionary, choosing the three readings for today and starting to ponder what the Spirit was saying to me. The issue of faith stood out immediately. In the Samuel reading I highlighted part of verse 45: “but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies”. Which explained pretty much how David the shepherd boy was able to even consider taking on the giant warrior Goliath. He had faith that God would be with him; that he was acting with God’s authority. And, too, in today’s Psalm, verse 10 drew my attention: “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.” And of course the Gospel reading today is focussed totally on faith.
We have all heard preachers explain how they go about the process of coming up with a reflection, and most admit to its not being an easy task. When I first came to the role, I remember explaining that I learned so much more from the Scriptures I had to work with, because my knowledge and understanding was generally limited and I was always under stress. I had to go deeper and deeper, using the analogy of the onion that we keep peeling away, to make coherent sense out of the Word and how it could apply to our lives here in Tairua today.
But I thought this time I’d try a different and modern approach. Being an enthusiastic member of the newly reformatted Tairua Business Association, I have been paying a bit more attention to business stuff. One thing that caught my fancy was a promotion by the local Council of seminars on getting to grips with AI – artificial intelligence – in business. The focus of the offered seminar was a look at an AI tool that is available for all: ChatGPT.
Artificial intelligence at this stage of development is probably still in its infancy, yet it already provides many new and useful tools. At the same time, the spectre of technology taking over the world and relegating us humans to servant status is impacting workforces around the world.
So against this backdrop, I bravely opened ChatGPT on my computer and typed in “Write a sermon on Mark 4:35-41″. The results were instantly remarkable. So, sit back and hear what artificial intelligence was able to come up with [produced here word for word – Editor]:
“Finding Faith in the Storm”
Dear congregation
Today, let us delve into the powerful passage from the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 4, verses 35 to 41. This narrative recounts the moment when Jesus and his disciples embarked on a boat, and a great storm arose while they were at sea. As the winds howled and the waves crashed against the vessel, the disciples were filled with fear and panic. But in the midst of the chaos, Jesus was there, calmly sleeping in the stern of the boat.
This story is not just a historical anecdote; it holds profound significance for us today. It speaks to the storms of life that we all encounter—those moments of trial, uncertainty, and fear that threaten to overwhelm us. Just as the disciples faced a literal storm at sea, we face metaphorical storms in our lives: illness, loss, financial troubles, relationship challenges, and so much more.
In the face of these storms, it’s easy to feel like the disciples did—terrified and helpless. We may wonder, where is God in the midst of our struggles? Why does He seem silent while we suffer? But the beauty of this passage lies in what happens next.
The disciples, in their desperation, woke Jesus and cried out, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Their words echo the cries of our own hearts when we feel abandoned by God in the midst of our storms. But Jesus, in His infinite love and mercy, responded by rebuking the winds and the waves, saying, “Silence! Be still!” And immediately, the storm ceased, and there was a great calm.
Through this miraculous act, Jesus not only demonstrated His power over the forces of nature but also revealed a profound truth: He is with us in the storms of life. Even when it seems like He is asleep or indifferent to our struggles, He is there, ready to calm the raging seas of our hearts.
But the story doesn’t end there. After calming the storm, Jesus turned to His disciples and asked, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” These questions cut to the heart of the matter. In the face of adversity, do we trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty, or do we allow fear to overpower our faith?
Brothers and sisters, let us learn from the disciples’ experience. Let us not allow fear to dictate our response to life’s storms. Instead, let us anchor our faith in the unwavering truth that Jesus is with us always, guiding us through the darkest of times.
As we navigate the tempests of life, may we find comfort and strength in the knowledge that we serve a God who can calm the storm with just a word. May we cultivate a faith that is resilient in the face of adversity, knowing that nothing is impossible for our Lord.Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, in the midst of life’s storms, help us to trust in Your unfailing love and power. Give us the faith to believe that You are with us always, guiding us through the darkest of times. Calm the storms in our hearts, and grant us the courage to face whatever challenges come our way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
God bless you all.
There you have it! What did you think?
To be honest, I was impressed, especially when it spat out the prayer and blessing at the end. I would not be offended if you asked me to use AI to write all my reflections in future, whenever you see my name on the roster. It was certainly faster – about 1.75 seconds versus my usual two to three weeks! And its grammar is better than mine! And if Betty Moss was still with us, she would have approved of its brevity! (“No longer than seven minutes, Barry! That’s the perfect length for a sermon.”)
But just like the Wellington transport system, AI has a downside! As clever as it is, AI can’t supply the human touch. It can’t reveal its weaknesses, or speak from personal experience. It lacks ‘soul’. We can’t trust it will provide what we need. If anything, it has added doubt to the ‘reality’ that we perceive.
We still need humans to fill in some of these gaps, and it’s my turn today . . .
I started out saying that today’s readings were all about faith. The Gospel account highlighted two things to me. The first: if I was in that boat I know I would have been terrified too, and wondering how Jesus could be asleep in such turmoil. My faith would certainly have been tested. And second: the amazing things the disciples had witnessed and been part of in their time with Jesus suddenly were forgotten in a testing situation. How often is this true for us?
What shape is my faith really in?
The disciples were just like me! Frightened and doubting! Yet they were able to overcome these weaknesses with the right tools, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
The two verses I acknowledged earlier in the Samuel and Psalm readings offer some direction. “But I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,” is an anchor point for us. If that could be etched in the front of our consciousness it would temper much of what we think, say and do. Before you dismiss it because it sounds like a military salutation, “the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” could be translated, “the Lord of powers” or “the Lord who is the strongest of all”, the Lord God Almighty. However you interpret it, it says that God is with us and is fighting for us, and look what effect it had on David, the young shepherd boy!
Another anchor point is surely the verse from Psalm 9, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.” This is another positional claim. If we are active in seeking and maintaining a relationship with God, we can rely on him in all ways. To trust is to have faith.
You may have noticed, many of my past reflections have contained an ‘addendum’, something usually added in the early hours of the morning of delivery. I am most receptive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit at that time, and he reveals for inclusion little extras that we need to hear. This time he prompted the inclusion of a commentary from yesterday morning’s devotions.
It’s about patience, but also relates to us all in the boat with Jesus:
Patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Patience comes right after peace. Why? Because when we have peace in our hearts, practically nothing can cause us to feel impatient. But these qualities are the fruit of the Spirit, not the effort of the flesh. We can’t psych ourselves up and say, ‘I am now going to be patient.’ If it’s the genuine fruit of the Spirit, we’ll have genuine inner peace, and circumstances that used to irritate us won’t bother us as much (or even at all) because we’ve started to depend completely on God.
Patience is a type of faith. It says, ‘I trust God. I believe he’s bigger than this problem. I believe his hand is in these irritations and can use them for good in my life.’ Frustration says, ‘Why did this happen?’ Faith says, ‘God, what do you want me to learn here?’
Abraham was 100 years old when his second son, Isaac, was born. That’s a long time to be patient. The toughest kind of waiting happens when we’re in a rush and God isn’t. It’s hard to be patient when we’re waiting for an answer, but being patient is both the evidence of our faith and a test of our faith. It’s at times like that when God whispers, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10). In other words, ‘I’m in charge, I have a better plan, I’m working things out for your good!’
So, as I conclude, I would like us to consider, what is it that we really have faith in? How strong is that faith? What do we need to do to be rock-solid?
Let us pray as ChatGPT suggests [and notice that it even rhymes – Editor]:
Divine Creator,
In the quiet of our hearts, we come to you in humble prayer,
Seeking strength and guidance, enveloped in Your care.
Grant us, O Lord, a steadfast faith that never wavers,
A faith that holds firm through life’s storms and favours.
In moments of doubt, be our unwavering light,
Illuminate our paths with Your wisdom and insight.
When challenges loom and trials seem too great to bear,
Instil in us the courage to trust and to dare.
Help us, dear God, to see beyond what eyes can perceive,
To believe in Your promises and never to leave.
May our faith be a beacon, shining bright and true,
Reflecting Your love in all that we say and do.
In times of joy, let our gratitude abound,
Acknowledging Your blessings that endlessly surround.
And in times of sorrow, may our faith be our solace,
A balm for our souls, bringing peace in every place.
Lord, deepen our faith each day, without hesitation,
So we may walk with You in constant dedication.
For with You, O God, all things are possible and clear,
Grant us the grace to trust, to hope, and to persevere.
In Your holy name we pray.Amen
stfrancischurchtairuanz 