“Eternal Father, strong to save, whose arm hath bound the restless wave, who bidst the mighty ocean deep its own appointed limits keep; Oh hear us when we cry to Thee, for those in peril on the sea.”
In a few weeks we will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald in a turbulent Lake Superior, and of course all of you are very aware of the restless waves and perils of the sea. That is why we gather here, in this 50th year of the canonization of Mother Seton, to ask for her intercession for the safety of all upon the sea. As a mother who worried about her sons, William and Richard, we ask her to pray all in the Sea Services, for safety and courage as they don’t shy away from the dangers involved, but we ask that God will give them grace and protection as they do so.
I was recently speaking with a Naval officer who told me about her experience on an aircraft carrier that was riding out a hurricane along the east coast. She told me of how the waves crashed onto the flight deck and how in that moment she felt so small and how vast and large the ocean is. Recently, at a conference, she came across a painting that really touched her heart. She pulled the painting up on her phone and it shows a sailor at the helm of a ship, in the midst of a great storm, but embracing him is the Lord Jesus Himself, with His hands on the helm providing protection and direction in the midst of the storm.
This image seems to capture the world we live in. This week two hurricanes passed by in the Atlantic, the government is shutdown, wars plague our world, political divisions seem insurmountable, and storm winds seem to be blowing all around. We can be tempted to give into despair and fear amid the waves, but we gather to remember, that we are not alone. We gather as those in the boat with Our Lord, as people of faith, assured of the closeness of God and the embrace of Jesus as His hands wrap around ours at the helm of our lives.
Jesus is our Foundation, our Anchor, our North Star and our hope. During this Holy Year, we come again on pilgrimage to pray, to ask for strengthened faith as we face the challenges of life.
In the Gospel, Jesus has just warned His disciples about not leading others into error and then He told them about them about the importance of forgiveness, even to forgive seven times and to continually forgive. That was a tall order, so they asked Him to increase their faith. His response is interesting. He does not say, I’ll give you more. Rather He reminds them, they already have it. They must utilize it. If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could do amazing things. We have faith. Ask God to take the helm and cooperate with the gift He has already given. Faith enables us to do things, to do God’s work, yes even to forgive in ways unimaginable, because faith enables God to work in our lives in ways that defy human limits.
Mother Seton experienced storms in her life. She knew challenge, setbacks, human loss and tragedy and human limitations. She wasn’t superhuman in her own right, but she was an amazing woman of faith. She allowed God to take the helm. She responded to God and entrusted the projects He inspired, and with faith and God’s grace, she accomplished things beyond human imagining.
Brothers and sisters, we received God’s amazing gift of faith at baptism. This gift was planted in us like a mustard seed. Are we willing to cooperate and give God permission to take the helm of our lives to lead and guide us? [JJOC story] – Give God permission.
One of the beautiful images of the Church is as ship, gathering people, to carry them through the storms of life to the safe shores of heaven. We know the story of Jesus in the boat with His disciples during the storm. They cry out “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” “Quiet, Be still,” He says. “Why were you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”
We have faith. The winds are blowing, and the waves are crashing against the bow, but do not be afraid. Our faith is in Jesus Christ. He is in the boat with us. He embraces us and takes the helm if we but let Him, if we give Him permission.
St. Timothy had faith, but like us, he needed encouragement. St. Paul encouraged him. “For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord (nor of men, a prisoner for his sake) but bear your share of the hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.”
To you, in the Sea Services, you are not afraid to go to sea. You respect it, know the dangers, prepare yourselves and your ships, take precautions and then push into the deep, entrusting yourselves through prayer, to the Lord who takes the helm.
To us, the faithful in the Bark of Peter, as we serve in the ship of the Church, we are not afraid to go to sea. We know that life will present dangers, but we spiritually prepare our hearts, we come to this safe port of the Mass for the provisions of the Eucharist, we take precautions through the sacraments, and daily we are called to entrust ourselves to Jesus who is in the boat with us. Jesus became one with us, was born into time, embraced all that we go through, and even understands our suffering and our dying, and then raises it up with Him in His Resurrection. That is our faith. He is our Hope.
Today, as we pray for all in the Sea Services, I would like to encourage all us. We have received the gift of faith. Our faith is in Jesus Christ. He is our Hope, our Anchor, or North Star and our Solid Foundation. Lord, please stir into flame this gift of faith, this spirit of power, love and self-control. As we face the storms and challenges of life, and as we your servants embrace the high calling you give us, help us to be people of love, mercy, forgiveness, compassion and selfless sacrifice. We cannot do this on our own, but in faith we know that you can do in us and with us, things beyond human limitations. As we come to you and receive you in the Eucharist, give us greater trust to allow you to lead, to give you space to steer and entrust the helm of our lives, so that we can make your peace, love and hope known to all who meet us amid the storms of this world.
“O Christ whose voice the waters heard, and hushed this raging at Thy Word, who walkedst on the foaming deep, and calm amidst the storm didst sleep; O hear us when we cry to Thee, for those in peril on the sea.”