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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, we arrive on this Saturday, and the gospel has a line that's perhaps very easy to pass over.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It says, It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's the moment.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not the miracle, Jesus walking on the water.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That line.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because that's where most of us live at some point.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Doing what we're supposed to do, moving forward, trying to be faithful, and yet it feels dark.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It can feel lonely.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It can feel like Jesus hasn't shown up.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The disciples are in the boat, in the middle of the sea, the wind is against them, and Jesus is not there.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then things get worse.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The storm builds, the distance grows, and now not only is he absent, they're afraid.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's real faith.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's day-to-day.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's what we struggle with.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We're talking about our daily lives.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not when everything is clear, but when it's dark.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And he hasn't come yet.

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<v SPEAKER_00>When we haven't felt his presence, when we don't see him, we don't feel him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Now hold on to that because the first reading we see something very different.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The church is growing, people are coming, but there's a problem, real tension.

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<v SPEAKER_00>People are being overlooked.

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<v SPEAKER_00>There's frustration.

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<v SPEAKER_00>There's division.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What do the gospel what do the apostles do?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, they don't panic.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They don't try to do everything themselves.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They respond with clarity.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What do they say?

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<v SPEAKER_00>They say, We need men filled with the spirit and wisdom.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We need structure.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We need order.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We need people who will step up and lead and govern.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And what happens?

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<v SPEAKER_00>The church doesn't fall apart.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It begins to grow.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that's important because both readings show us something we don't always expect.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Even in the presence of God, there can still be moments of problems, pressure, and uncertainty.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The disciples are in the storm.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The church is dealing with tension and division, and yet God is still at work.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So if we go back to the gospel out in the darkness, in the middle of the storm, what happens?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Then suddenly they see something.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus walking towards them.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But they don't recognize him right away.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In fact, they're afraid.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because sometimes when God shows up in our lives, he doesn't look the way you expect.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You thought he would fix everything immediately, that all the answers would be there.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You thought that the would calm everything in your life, all your anxieties, frustrations, disappointments.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You thought it would be very clear that Jesus is now in your life.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Instead, he calms in the middle of it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then he says one simple thing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's I.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Do not be afraid.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not I'll remove the storm right away.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not I'll make everything easy for you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Just I am here.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that's enough.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And the moment they receive him, they arrive.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The journey is completed.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that's the key.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not that the storm disappeared, but that his presence changed everything.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So here's the question for you today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What do you do when it's dark?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And it feels like God hasn't shown up, that you can't feel his presence.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Do you stop?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Do you lose trust?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Do you assume he's not there?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Do you go back to your old habits?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Or do you keep rowing?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Do you keep moving?

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<v SPEAKER_00>One foot in front of the other.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Keep believing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Just because you don't see him doesn't mean he doesn't already doesn't mean he's not already on the way.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And sometimes closer than you think.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So don't give up in the dark.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Don't walk away in the storm.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Don't assume absence when he's about to speak.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because sooner or later every disciple's, every disciple hears it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It is I.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And in that moment, everything changes.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not because life gets easier, but because you realize, oh wait, I'm never alone.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I haven't been alone.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that's what allows you to keep going, to keep trusting, to keep living your faith, a real faith, a steady faith, a faith that is grounded.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Even when you can't see the shoreline, not yet, he does.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And he's already leading you there.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So trust in the Lord.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Seek your eyes on his presence even when you can't feel it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.