The first air raid siren sounded over London, England, in September of 1939. For anyone who lived in the city during World War II, its sound will echo forever. The German blitzkrieg dropped a hundred tons of explosives on sixteen British cities. More than a million homes were destroyed, and forty thousand civilians lost their lives.
Hitler thought the blitzkrieg would demoralize the British into surrendering. He thought wrong. It backfired. It steeled the Brits’ resolve to fight, even if it meant fighting to the death.
Before the blitzkrieg began, the British Department of information designed three “Home Publicity” posters. Each of the posters used the Tudor Crown as its watermark. The first said, “Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution Will Bring Us Victory.” The second said, “Freedom Is in Peril Defend It With All Your Might.” The third and most famous said, “Keep Calm and Carry On.”
To date, hundreds of parodies have been made of that original saying. Like: Keep Calm and Drink Tequila, Keep Calm and Pop Bubble Wrap, Keep Calm and Eat Cookies, and this is for those who like watching football – Keep Calm, Drop Back Ten and Punt.
Instead of a spoof on the original, I wonder if Keep Calm and Carry On could summarize what happened in Mark 9:14-29. Jesus comes down from the mountain. Peter, James and John just witnessed Him transfigured and talking to Moses and Elijah. No sooner than He is on level ground Jesus meets a defiant demon, an arguing crowd, a fretful father, a mute son, and nine dumbfounded disciples.
In His inquiry Jesus hears the desperation. “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” (Mark 9:22) Jesus responds: “’If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23) In other words, Keep Calm and Believe.
The fretful father cries out to Jesus: “I believe; help my unbelief.” In his desperation this father can’t help but see the mountain that has fallen upon his son. He also can’t help but see the poverty of his faith. The father wants to possess what he needs to free his son from his merciless possession.
What mountains do you want removed? What possesses you? You may be all quiet and calm on the outside, but within – you hear the air raid siren. The bombs are dropping. There is worry. There is fear. There is carnage. The stiff upper lip quivers. The steely resolve erodes.
And, THERE is your Savior. In His glorious splendour from the mountain top, now He looks like any one of us. He steps into your devastation, just as he stepped into the despair of those nine disciples He left behind.
Exorcism was not new to these disciples. They had been sent out before to heal and cast out demons. How come their efforts now fall flat with this mute boy? It backfired. They became an “unbelieving generation.” They lost focus. Yes, Keep Calm and Believe, but not believing to have so much faith, but in whom one believes. So, Keep Calm and Pray On.

Prayer zeros in upon our Savior. Then as those called to follow Jesus, we cry out: “Help my unbelief.” Our words do not speak out to nothingness where there are no ears to hear. A disciple focuses upon Jesus in prayer, because we cannot help but rely upon ourselves. That’s our confession. And, this is how prayer directs our attention upon the only One of whom we can rely. Therein lies saving faith. It’s not only about what you believe in, but more importantly, in whom you believe in.
You can drink all the tequila that you want. You can pop all of your bubble wrap. You can eat a ton of cookies. And, you can watch or play sports until the cows come home, but I can promise you – you will not really be calm or be able to carry on indefinitely.
There is no addiction so strong that God’s power can’t overwhelm. There is no failure so final that God’s grace cannot forgive. There is no wound so deep that God’s love cannot heal. For Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.” (John 14:27) He gives you the peace that rescues, the peace of forgives, the peace that heals. The Holy Spirit focuses you upon the peace of Your Savior. You are kept calm as your pray and praise. •
– By Pastor Neil Stern
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
Leduc, AB