Today we are going to bless the fleet. Why?
Do we bless the fleet because that’s what we’re supposed to do? Because we do it every year? Or does it have meaning beyond tradition? What does it mean when we bless something anyway? What does it mean when we ask God to bless something?
Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:1-3 NRSV)
This reading from Genesis begins to tell us what blessing is about. On the surface, blessing is the opposite of cursing. Blessing is as good as cursing is bad. But blessing is much more than that. Blessing is about relationship. It is about being in right relationship with each other. It is about being in right relationship with God.
How do we know when we are in right relationship with God? Our Gospel today has some clues to help us.
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." (John 20:21-23 NRSV)
We can’t be in right relationship with God if we are not in right relationship with each other. Jesus tells us that we have the power to retain sins … to keep them from being forgiven. He also tells us that he gives us peace. I think these two things cannot truly go together. If we keep someone’s sins how can we truly be at peace? Our only true choice, if we want to be in right relationship with God, is to forgive.
Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe. (John 20:29 NRSV)
A good relationship with God depends on faith. We won’t always be able to see God working in our lives. If we want to be in right relationship with God, we have to trust that God is walking with us. No matter what happens in our lives, whether it is good or bad, God shares our joy and our pain.
So in a few minutes, when we bless the fleet, we are praying for three things to happen. First, we are saying that we want to be in right relationship with those who, like Andrew and James, make their livings by fishing in the sea, especially those who fish in our own community. We promise to support them and pray for them throughout this season. Second, we pray that they remain in right relationship with God. That they give thanks for God’s abundance, for whatever catch God provides. Third, we pray for God to bless them. We ask God to make his presence known to them as they journey away from these shores. To help them to know that no matter what happens, they are never alone.
The most important part for us here today is the first part; our part. We have faith that God will watch over our fleet. It takes work for us to make sure that we continue to support them, not just today but always. It takes discipline for us to remember them in our prayers. Today is just the start. So if everyone would please take out your leaflet for the blessing of the fleet ….
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