Key Points
· Flags are a symbol, something that unites people around a common cause
Ø Recall the flags created at Going for Gold, which countries do these flags represent?
Ø When did the Union Jack come into existence
§ 1801 following the Act of Union when the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland came into effect
§ Comprised of the Cross of St George, St Andrew and St Patrick
·Flags were also a way of communicating before the invention of ferry lights, telegraph or radio.
Ø Different flags represent different letters
Ø What does this message say? “England expects every man to do his duty”
· In our gospel reading heard the story of the disciples caught up in a storm on Lake Galilee
Ø If flags had been around then would have hoisted this message – “In distress”
Ø Squalls were commonplace on Lake Galilee, I am sure the fishermen used to them. These were not inexperienced people who suddenly found themselves out of their depth
Ø Mark’s account very brief, I am sure they had been fighting the storm for some time. Sweat pouring from their brow, sinews straining as they tried to get their boat to land.
Ø No reason to wake Jesus, after all he was a carpenter by trade, they were professional sailors.
Ø Mark stresses that the disciples were scared for their lives, they were exhausted having tried everything they knew to try and make land and safety, only then that they turned to Jesus.
· It is easy to try and do everything in our own strength just like the disciples
Ø After all as adults we have our experiences and knowledge to call on.
Ø When younger very keen to demonstrate how independent we are, how we can cope.
Ø Faith is something that other people, less able than ourselves require.
Ø Yet for all our ability, to what extent are we really in control ?
Ø The world is changing very quickly, old established orders breaking down - blue chip companies, a job for life no longer guaranteed. Consider the extent of change in the FTSE 100 index over the past 10 years.
· One of the most difficult aspects to admit that you can’t cope, goes against the grain – yet as Christians we have acknowledged our inadequacy – without Christ we are destined for eternity separate from God.
Ø If we let him, God will bring us to the place where we cant cope, to the point where there is no option but to trust in him.
Ø Moses – leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, perhaps getting confident because he had done what he thought was impossible – releasing the Israelites from captivity - suddenly confronted with the Red Sea when the Egyptian army in hot pursuit. No where to hid – the only way out was to let God take control.
Ø Gideon – God told him to reduce his army to just 300 men when fighting over 120,000 people in the Midianite army. Total lunacy, generally accepted that you require at least supremacy of at least 3:1 if going to attack.
Ø More recently remembered the 60th anniversary of the evacuation at Dunkirk – in just 48 hours over 300,000 British and Allied troops evacuated from the beaches at Dunkirk – the Channel, notorious for poor, changeable weather – was as flat as a mill pond.
· Are we prepared to put our trust in God, individually and corporately does he have to bring us to the point where we can’t cope on our own – to fly the flag “in distress”
Ø What would it mean ?
Ø Perhaps for St. Boniface it would be committing to something that we know that we can’t achieve in our own strength e.g. building a church hall with all the facilities that are required
Ø Stepping out in faith to accept a job even though the path forward is unclear
Ø To acknowledge that the situation at home will not improve unless we ask God to help
Ø Maybe for the first time actually calling on God, like the disciples, “Save Us”.