Why Do You Make a Commotion?

Sermon for Proper 8 B (RCL), Offered by Nathan Ferrell at HS, Bellmawr & St. Luke’s, Westville

Texts: 2 Samuel 1:1,17-27; Psalm 130; 2 Cor. 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43

You know, it must have driven them mad. It must have been very frustrating for the disciples as they wandered back and forth through the hills of Galilee. I feel certain that they spent a lot of mental energy trying to figure out how the Lord operated, to discern his special techniques.

I can imagine the questions: “Jesus, how do you do it? How do you heal people? Is it only by laying your hands on them? Is it with your saliva, like when you spit on your hands and touched the blind man’s eyes? But then, what about the woman who only touched your cloak from behind? How did that work? And sometimes you just say a certain word and the sick are healed! What do you have to say to make that happen?”

These disciples were mostly working men, folks who knew how to build things, how to fix things, how to add and count and to handle business transactions. They were used to the normal, common-sense “how-to” of daily life.

But this Teacher whom they followed had no rhyme or reason. Jesus had no technique for healing people. He had no method, he had no scheme. No, the truth is that he dealt with every person he met as an individual, and he handled each situation uniquely.

And it is no different with us today. God has no special technique.

There is no magic formula that we can use to try to predict God’s actions, or to control life. I know it is tempting. Erin and I met while we were in college through the ministry of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. During those years, we were taught the evangelical perspective on the Gospel. It made a lot of sense. Our task was to have a quiet time every day for prayer and bible study. We were to tithe faithfully and to support those who were sharing the Gospel around the world. And on the other side, God would bless us and give us strength to be a light in our community.

This simple quid pro quo worldview began to be shaken about 10 years ago. After our first 2 children were born, we experienced 2 difficult second trimester stillbirths, one after another. This was completely unexpected and inexplicable. Even though we knew in our minds that life was unpredictable and that “God’s ways are not [our] ways” ( Isaiah 55:8), still it felt good to hold on to this kind of certainty: that if we were faithful in playing our part, then God would make sure that things worked out well.

But that is not faith, my friends. It is superstition. It is an attempt at manipulation.

Faith is trust: deep-seated, whole-hearted trust. And this trust allows us to accept life as it comes. Life is unpredictable.

In the parish I served in Massachusetts, a parishioner told me the story of his good friend who had worked very hard his entire life. This man was diligent to save and to plan for his retirement. Finally, the day came. Both he and his wife retired and they were so happy to have this time together for which they had planned. But, a month after retirement, the man was struck by sudden heart failure, and not long after this his wife passed as well.

I don’t know if these folks trusted in God or not. But it makes no difference. Even for members of the Body of Christ, life is unpredictable.

When our Lord arrived at the home of Jairus, and he saw the crowd of paid mourners gathered there, he asked them a simple yet profound question: “Why do you make a commotion and weep?” Why do you make such a loud fuss?

It is a good question for all of us. In the face of uncertainty, living in an unpredictable world created by an unpredictable God, our body naturally pushes us to anxiety.
When we are anxious, most of us make a lot of noise. We’ve been doing it every since we were born! When babies need something, then it’s time to cry.

Why do you make such a commotion? The way most of us adults deal with our own anxiety is to surround ourselves with constant noise. We have more toys and gadgets now than ever before with which to surround ourselves with noise. It makes it much easier this way to block out the anxiety that greets us in silence.

In our society, it is quite obvious that we value communication much more than contemplation. But I ask you, why? We have access to more information now than any human beings in history, but… do we know what it means? How does this information help us to live better, healthier, fuller, more abundant lives?

After Jesus had herded away those noisy mourners, he entered into the quiet room, where Jairus’ daughter lay. There, in the silence, he spoke words of healing and hope. And those who accompanied him into the room were struck with awe.

If we are to hear God speak to us, if we are to understand the seeming randomness of our life as a piece in the overall good plan of God, then we must learn to be silent. We must learn to listen. We must train our ears to listen for a different, and higher, frequency.

When I was in seminary, our wise professor, Glenn Hinson, who served as our spiritual guide, repeatedly exhorted us to practice listening to God in silence. It was his contention that in order for us to be effective pastoral leaders, it is essential for us to spend the following times in silent, contemplative listening: an hour a day, a day a month, a week a year.

Unfortunately, I have rarely been able to keep this discipline. Right now, the only quiet time I usually get is after 10 PM at night! One day, I will get to this point. Because he was right. Before any word of ours is the Word of God. Out of the eternal silence, God spoke, And in Jesus, God speaks to us, not in a loud shout, but in a whisper. In the midst of a crazy, loud and confusing world, the Spirit waits in silence.

This is how the desert fathers could make this bold claim for the power of silence: “Any trial whatever that comes to you can be conquered by silence” (The Wisdom of the Desert, Thomas Merton, p. 55).

So why make such a commotion? Why allow your anxiety to control you? Put your trust in the Lord and listen to his voice. My friends, make it a regular part of your life to meet with God in silence. In that time, in that place, the Word will speak and you will find healing for your souls.