The traditions of the eucharist. Communion, closed, open, traditional, meals, fellowship with results: strength, resolve, hope, wisdom, understanding, presence of God.
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Notice, before the big event, a daily investment in small faith steps prepares us for the great storms of life! Paul started by being faithful in little things along this great path he is living.
Sea of Adria was in the middle of the Mediterranean while the Gulf of Adria what we today call the Adriatic Sea. As they near shipwreck, it becomes clear to the crew that Paul’s prophecy is coming to pass. Fear is still present. Some want to escape. Now Paul is in control with divine authority. His insight is followed by the centurion. When the ship starts to run aground, the centurion wants to save Paul, and the prisoners so all make it to shore.
What is the purpose of the very clear and extensive account given by Luke here and not in Chapter 21? Notice the lack of calming the storm. Here there is something else that God is doing, namely, he is establishing the power of faith and God’s control over history in sight of overwhelming paganism. What could be construed as magic has no place in the very real fear of the elements of nature. God is not tinkering with natural and human processes with arbitrary interventions, but with the direction of the human heart by revealing the purposes and call of God. See Luke 21:12-19.
When we are caught in the complexity of social entanglements, our faith in God must not be focused so much on the elimination of these circumstances but on God’s power that enables us to endure and so gain possession of our lives!
Here we find the real value of prophecy: Though Paul is predicting the future and seeing it fulfilled, he is also a spokesperson for God! He advises, exhorts, comforts, strengthens, challenges as a servant of God whom he serves! And at the center of the storm and its ravages, fears, and confusion, he breaks bread. Of the 276 on board, only 3 are Christians. Yet he includes all with dramatic results – not all believe, some try to escape, but all are brought to safety as he said they would. This act of faith changed the course of the events, as it gave courage, strength, and hope to all. Paul’s faith reminds us of Mary, who chose to believe God and whet he said would come to pass. Put your faith in Jesus today.