Maybe the title of today’s reflection should be “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” That’s basically what Jesus is telling his disciples in this Gospel reading. But, much more than that we have more proof for these followers of Jesus that He is no mere man. Who but God can calm the storm and settle a raging sea? Indeed, many commentators speculate that showing proof of Jesus’ divinity was a principle reason for including this story in Mark’s Gospel.
I don’t know about you, but, I’ve been on a fishing boat, in the ocean when the weather suddenly turned south. It can be pretty scary being in the midst of such a situation. However, Jesus simply rebukes the storm, and everything returned to “calm.”
“Do you not yet have faith,” is the question Jesus asks? In yesterday’s reflection, we saw that the seeds of faith don’t always germinate. The men in the boat were indeed graced to be in the presence of the Living God, Jesus, however, the Holy Spirit was not yet given to the Church.
Jesus is asking you the same question today that he asked after calming the storm — is the Holy Spirit breaching the rocky soil of your soul? Are you ready to calm the seas of your troubled soul?
Life in this world can indeed be messy, and faith in Christ is not a panacea promising a perfect life in this world, free of storms or rough weather. No, Jesus came to offer us eternal life in heaven, reconciled to God the Father.
The New Covenant, via the death burial, and resurrection of our savior, is in essence, our “get out of jail free card,” with Jesus paying the eternal price of our sinfulness.
My friends, the storm is indeed coming for each of us, and indeed the entirety of creation. What will you do? My suggestion is that you keep calm and trust in Jesus.
GOSPEL
Mark 4:35-41
On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”
