12 June 2014 - in control, but not remote

12 June 2014 - in control, but not remote


God is in control.  In the time of Elijah Baal has a reputation for controlling the rain and the storms.  God shows this to be false.  He is the one who "makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust" (cf. Mat 5:45).

He can still any storm to silence.

You rule the raging sea;
you still its swelling waves (cf. Psa 89:10).

And again, no storm can continue when he does not permit it.

He hushed the storm to silence,
the waves of the sea were stilled.
They rejoiced that the sea grew calm,
that God brought them to the harbor they longed for (cf. Psa. 107:28-30).

The drought cannot continue when the LORD decrees the rain should fall.

In a trice the sky grew dark with clouds and wind,
and a heavy rain fell.

God alone is the source of these blessings.

You have visited the land and watered it;
greatly have you enriched it.
God’s watercourses are filled;
you have prepared the grain.

God alone has this power.  It is shocking, therefore, that Jesus shares it.  Here again the disciples: “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” (cf. Mat. 8:27).

This is theophany.  Jesus is the very one who commands the wind and the waves.  He is God, the great I AM, as he explicitly tells us later (cf. Joh. 8:58).  Therefore we listen when Jesus preaches his new law.  From Mount Sinai Moses can only tell us the law that he hears, crashing in thunder, as it is declared by angels (cf. Act. 7:53).  Yet, with a voice greater than that of any angel Jesus does not merely report what he hears, he tells us, "I say to you".  Let us make no mistake.  He says not just to the listeners at that time but to us, to you and to me.

Jesus has the authority to bring the rain into our dry and weary hearts.  He is trying to save us from being exposed to a scorching sun unnecessarily.  He assures us that "By day the sun will not strike you, nor the moon by night" (cf. Psa. 121:6) in his care.  We can stay out in the sun longer than we have to.  In our obstinance we often do.  We hold grudges, entertain anger, use hurtful words, and cling to unforgiveness.  If we do this it does not avail us to bring gifts to the altar.  Any such gifts are half-purposed, insincere, and therefore not transformative.  If we cling to the scorched earth of our hearts and do not turn to the LORD we are allowed to experience the consequences, even unto Purgatory:

Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

We can even, if we cling to the various representatives of Baal in our lives, if we refuse the rain of forgiveness which the LORD alone can bring, be allowed to forego that rain forever in "fiery Gehenna."  We then cry for Lazarus to bring us just a drop of water but it is too late.  Our choice is made.

But, listen!  Jesus tells us this because he very much wants to visit the land of our hearts and to water it.  He wants to crown the year with his bounty so that the paths of our hearts "overflow with a rich harvest" for the kingdom.  He wants to fill us with rejoicing.