Trust and Thankgiving in a Storm of Fear

Today we join with all who give thanks for God’s provision and generosity. And we give thanks and pray for all involved in bringing the harvest to us. Harvest festivals also provide a chance to join with Creation’s song of praise to God our creator and to see God’s goodness and love being declared through all creation.

As we pray “give us today our daily bread”, we are invited to hear the invitation to live with enough. We are reminded that the West’s avarice for more has resulted in a significant percentage of humanity living in constant hunger and debilitating poverty and done lasting damage to our planet.  Today provides a chance to take stock and work for another way.

Our harvest festival comes during Matariki which is signifies the time to prepare the land for the kumara planting. We are reminded of our need to care for this planet so that it may continue to provide our daily bread. It is God’s gift and needs our care and protection.

ENCOUNTER" - Magdala Chapel Mural Canvas

In our gospel reading we continue to reflect on the two central questions of Mark’s gospel: “With what shall we compare the kingdom of God?” and “who is this man?” He encounters a woman who for 12 years has been defined by her illness and purity laws. Despite all the times male healers have failed her, she desperately trusts that just touching Jesus’s tassel will bring healing. At the moment of touch, she is cured of her illness. As Jesus seeks her and reaches out to her, she is healed - restored to life in community as “daughter”. The power of fear is broken, and she can now live and thrive. The power of Jairus’ family’s fear for the little girl is broken, and she is restored to life. Jesus speaks again to the fear in the storm, “peace, be still”. Jesus gives a glimpse of God’s new reality. This harvest festival, we are invited to allow that to shape how we live.