Sermon
12th July 26
A couple of weeks ago, I was watching an item about the continuing tensions between Iran and some western nations on the BBC News Channel. It centred on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, that narrow strip of water between Iran and Oman. The presenter spoke at length about the harm that the blockade of ships was doing to the economy: how it was keeping the price of oil relatively high; how some of this oil with important fractions was threatening the scarcity of some specialist fuels; and how the quantity of fertilisers trapped in ships was threatening their supply and causing their price to rocket, thus threatening the availability and hence the price of some foods. What a threat the situation was to our economy: we might have to pay higher prices and think of the effect of that on inflation.
And that was it! We heard all about the things trapped on those ships: we didn’t hear a word about the people trapped on them. I tried to find out about the mainly men and a few women on board those ships: how many there were, and what conditions they were experiencing. Our media seemed to show no interest. In the end, I emailed the Missions to Seafarers (the Missions to Seamen as was) and they sent me some information.
They told me that an estimated 20,000 seafarers were trapped by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz alone, and that the knock-on effect of that closure, with more than 3,000 vessels delayed or unable to transit the region would have affected as many as 60,000 seafarers, stranded at sea often since the war began. If our media have no concern for these folk, then it is the more important that we do, and certainly that hold them in our prayers.
On this Sea Sunday, we remember all those on the water: a group who, as those readings today remind us, frequently face delay, danger, and even death. We pray for them, whether they are on great merchant vessels or small fishing boats.
Stella Maris, latin for “Star of the Sea” is one of the names by which our Lady, the mother of Jesus, is known: it’s an echo of her name, Mary. If you travel around the coast of the Mediterranean, you will often find fishermen’s Churches, or small Chapels, dedicated to God in her name, with statues and paintings of her, such as that on the front cover of our Service booklet this morning.
Towards the end of this service, we will turn to the statue of Our Lady whilst Steve sings the ancient hymn “Ave, Maris stella” (Hail, Star of the Sea). Please use that time to pray first for sailors, for fishermen, and all “those in peril on the sea”. And, as we get into the main holiday season, pray too for all those who travel by land, sea, or air, that they may do under God’s protection and come safely home.
Amen
