When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. 28 So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms. 29 And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship’s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go.
33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. 36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.
39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. 40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. 41 But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. 42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.
Martin Luther, Heretic is a 1983 film made to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther. It is my favorite Martin Luther movie, staring Jonathan Pryce as Martin Luther. It was released on 8 November 1983 in the United Kingdom, two days before the 500th jubilee on 10 November. I have seen the film more than a dozen times and love it so much because of the great quotable dialogue in the movie. In one scene, Luther is struggling with his faith and speaking with his father confessor, Johann von Staupitz. He is at hi wits end, not knowing how to find peace with God – no matter how hard he tries. In the throes of his distress he asks Staupitz, “What shall I do?!?” Staupitz’ answer, “Eat more food. Get more rest. Learn more about God.”
I’m reminded of this not only because we will celebrate Reformation Sunday at Hope Lutheran Church where I am serving as acting senior pastor, but also because Paul urges the people there, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength.” Paul is speaking of physical strength needed for the ordeal yet to come. They’ve been fighting the storm for 14 days without sustenance. It was time to get some nourishment.
There are five capitals Christians can invest for the sake of God’s kingdom. Five different resources we may invest to receive a return for the sake of God’s kingdom. Most often when we think of capital we think of money. Money is a kind of capital we can invest for the sake of God’s kingdom. But it is the least important of the five. Most important is spiritual capital. All things in God’s kingdom stand or fall on the basis of the spiritual realities we encounter. From prayer, to the sacraments, to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, spiritual capital has the greatest impact in God’s kingdom economy.
You might think that physical capital (physical strength, health, and the time and energy we have to invest in God’s kingdom is second to last in importance. But it is third, just behind relational capital. In other words, we need to eat and drink, be strong and energetic to advance God’s kingdom. This is why Paul urges the people to take food.
Not to mention the hope we have of the resurrection on the Great Last Day. Our bodies are not just soul sacks. We’re more than embodied spirits. We are body and spirit. We do not believe as the Gnostics taught that the physical is evil while the spiritual is good. Our whole being has been redeemed. And in the life of the world to come we will enjoy a completely perfect existance in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Take care of your body. Eat more (or less???) food. Get more rest. Learn more about God. Good advice – whether Staupitz actually advised Luther to do it. And use the strength you gain to serve Christ more faithfully – not to mention enjoying a foretaste of the eternal rest and the feast to come.
Click here for the Martin Luther Heretic Movie on YouTube.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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