Dear friends in Christ, grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The votive ship hanging over the baptismal font is a copy of the 1825 Restauration that brought the first Norwegian emigrants to America.  On July 4th, a replica of the original wooden sailing ship began its 98- day crossing of the Atlantic Ocean to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Restauration and is expected to arrive in New York City on October 9^th.  The captain of the Restauration had two routes to choose from to cross the Atlantic, the first, the historic northerly route which the Vikings used hopping from Iceland to Greenland to Nova Scotia, or the southerly route crossing the waters off the coast of North Africa to the Caribbean relying on the trade winds. There was a major risk in this decision. June to November was and is the height of the Atlantic hurricane season when sailors and crews must be vigilant in monitoring the weather.

The Apostle Paul was not a sailor, but he knew a lot about the seasonal storms on the Mediterranean Sea.  In his Second Letter to the Corinthians, he wrote, “Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea.” As he boarded the ship in Caesarea sailing for Rome as a prisoner in chains he knew the dangers ahead. Paul had committed no crime for which the Empire could condemn him, but the religious authorities in Jerusalem considered him a threat to the security of their people. As a Roman citizen, however, Paul had the right to state his case before the Emperor. So, in September of 60 AD, Paul was escorted by a centurion named Julius on an 1800- mile journey to Rome. The voyage was expected to last 24 days in good sailing conditions.  In the end, it lasted between 3 to 5 months.

As they left Sidon, Paul noted that that the captain was sailing cautiously along the inner coastal routes on the lee or the wind sheltered side of the islands, but he understood that the ship would eventually have to enter the dangerous, storm plagued, open waters of the Mediterranean in autumn. When the ship finally arrived at the small harbor of Fair Havens on the southern coast of the island of Crete, after days of delay, he advised the crew of the ship and his fellow passengers, that they should be prepared for life threatening conditions, “Men, I can see that the voyage will be with danger and much heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.”  But the centurion escorting Paul paid more attention to the captain and the owner of the ship than to what the Apostle said.  And they resumed sailing, hoping to reach Phoenix, the larger winter harbor further west on the island of Crete.

Paul was no stranger to physical and emotional trials.  In the same letter to the Corinthians, he had written,  “On frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked.”  Countless times, Paul could have turned around and gone back, but somehow he always found the strength and courage to move forward. He trusted that the message of God’s love was greater than the fear of death.

My friends, this past week, Minneapolis was shaken once again by the carnage of a senseless, mass killing-this time intended for children in worship. It was an act of terrorism which has traumatized an entire school community, the city, the state and our nation.  Sheltered from the storms on the leeside of the islands, far from Annunciation School and Church, we may feel that we can never dare to sail out into the open waters again. But this week was also been filled with acts of courage as well, exercised by police officers, first responders, medical staff, teachers, parents and even children in protecting and caring for their friends and those more vulnerable. There were acts of valor even in the storm of hatred and gunfire. Yes, these were those brave souls who chose to sail out into the open waters. They believed that the message of God’s love was greater than the fear of death.

The Apostle Paul never attributed his strength and courage to himself. It was always a gift of God. “When I am weak, then he is strong,” he wrote to the Corinthians.  God is offering you that same gift.  So let me share with you three convictions drawn from today’s lesson..  First, remember that God comes to you in life’s most difficult circumstances not simply to protect you, but also to remind you of his purpose for your life.  Second, God comes even to those who do not know him or worship him. Third, and perhaps most importantly for those who are grieving, God understands your fear and pain, more than you can ever grasp.

First of all, God comes to his followers in times of trial and danger to protect them, but he also comes at the critical crossroads in life when men and women are searching for direction.  He comes to remind then who they are and what they ultimately stand for.  Yes, there are shocking losses in life and events that we cannot explain. The storms and the quiet seas that follow are occasions for God to speak and remind us what is ultimately important. The angel told Paul in the midst of the storm. “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the Emperor.” That was Paul’s truth and promise that he was to live for.  God will be true to his promises.  That is his nature. His ways may not be our ways, but he will bring to fulfilment what he has promised. “So do not be afraid, but keep up your courage.”  And remember to be true to who you are and who God has created you to be.

Second, God comes even to those who do not know him or worship him, encouraging them and empowering them to do his good work in this world.  The Apostle Paul was not always a disciple of Christ.  In the Book of Acts, he is introduced as the primary persecutor of the church watching over the stoning of St. Stephen. On the road to Damascus, Paul was blinded by Jesus, and he challenged him saying, “Saul, Saul, why are your persecuting me?”  In times of trouble, and the storms at sea, God appears in the lives of his followers and even those who do not know him. His Spirit intercedes in the words and gestures of neighbors and complete strangers.

But beware. In these days people will choose to see this tragedy from different perspectives and offer trite answers. Paul himself began by blaming the disaster at sea on those who chose to follow the owner of the ship and the captain and their decision to set profit and punctuality over safety and security.  Some will only speak of gun violence and others will speak only of mental illness. Do not doubt the mercy and compassion shown by those with whom you disagree or you find disagreeable. God offers strength and courage for even unbelievers to do his will and show love and compassion.  “So do not be afraid, but keep up your courage.”  Be patient as well.  Sometimes it takes time to see and accept the kindness and concern of strangers.

Third, God knows and understands more than you can ever grasp.  Some things in life are simply too difficult for us to comprehend.  Sometimes we only get a glimpse of God’s ways. It was true for the Apostle Paul as well.   When the Lord appeared to Paul in Jerusalem before he was brought to Caesarea, he simply heard the word, “You must witness at Rome also.” The Lord didn’t tell Paul everything that was to happen- of the impending plot to kill him or of the two years that he would sit in custody in Caesarea. He didn’t mention the shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea or of the fact that he would travel to Rome in chains as a prisoner.  Thankfully, God doesn’t tell us what is in store in our lives either. But God does say that he will be there with us even in the storms of life.

My friends, God knows our human pain intimately and he knows our fears. On that long Friday afternoon, when the storms of hatred darkened the earth, he watched as his only son Jesus was beaten, crucified and left to die. He wept over the loss of his Son.  God knows the anger, pain, loss and suffering of this world, more than we can ever grasp. And still he chooses to inspire us with courage and strength to move us out from life’s safe, wind sheltered harbors into the life giving and transforming open waters.  Let me assure you, wherever you may find yourself ,the Lord near.  He is waiting to share with you his gifts of strength and courage through the mystery of his Holy Word, in the gentle and calming silence of prayer and in the nurturing gifts of his Holy Table.  “So do not be afraid, but keep up your courage.”

For nearly 2000 years, men and women have found strength and comfort in the message that God’s love is greater than the fear of death. It sustained the 52 passengers aboard the Restauration in the storms on the Atlantic.  In the late 1800’s, a Yankee Clipper long narrow sailing struck rocks off the coast of Maine.  It began to sink quickly with all hands aboard.  Some fishermen in a tiny village saw the boat begin to flounder and immediately pushed off in one of their row boats to help save their comrades who were floating in the icy water.  A man, who remained on shore, shouted out to them, “You fools!  Don’t you know you will never get back.  The waves are twenty feet high and the wind is screaming over the ocean at thirty knots.”  One of the men manning the oars in the fishing boat, shouted back, “We have to go out!  We don’t have to go back.”  That was true of so many brave heroes this past week.  Not even the fear of death, could keep them from showing God’s love and courage and strength. May that be how we treat one another in these tragic days. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.