Jesus Calming the Storm
Listening to the Spirit
Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Word
so that all your people may know and love You more
and understand You better.
As I go about my day may I not forget
the scriptures you have opened up for me.
Help me to recognize how You want for me
to apply Your Word to my daily life.
Holy Spirit, guided by Your Word,
may You enlighten my mind
and enkindle in my heart
a greater love for You and for others
in my family and in the world.
Amen.
Listening to the Word
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?”
Reflection
The story of Jesus appeasing the stormy waters of the lake is not so much a chronological report of one of Jesus's powerful miracles over the force of nature as a parable with a deeper significance for our faith as disciples.
The clues for a deeper message are giving to us by important details: the day is over: Jesus's earthly mission has been accomplished. We know that the night is the backdrop of Jesus' final moments among us; Jesus' sleeping with his head on a pillow points to his dead which brings to conclusion his earthly mission.
The one on the boat whom the disciples seem to have been forgotten is therefore the Risen Christ, the Savior and Redeemer, he is found at the helm of the boat.
In this light we can surmise that the boat with the disciples and Jesus on board represents the Christian community, the raging waters threatening the lives of the people on board can be seen as the forces of evil unleashed against the mission of bringing the Good News to “the other side”, the hostile pagan world. The Lord is never sleeping yet with the power of prayer "Master, do you not care? We are going down!" the disciples are able to recognize their Lord ever present in their journey. With that, their courage and determination are back again to accomplish the mission entrusted to them by the Lord.
Needless to say, how soothing and consoling this story is for our personal and community faith journey. The Lord never abandons us, if ever we are the ones forgetting him so worry to remain afloat when rainy days come.
by St. John Henry Newman (1834)
Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on; The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on.
Keep Thou my feet;
I do not ask to see the distant scene;
one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor prayed that
Thou shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on.
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
pride ruled my will;
remember not past years.
So long Thy power hath blessed me, sure it still
Will lead me on.
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone;
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.
Reflection Questions
Gospel Reflections
Allowing Jesus to Change Us
Who Is Jesus for Me? From Encounter to Mission
