Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary
Time – Mark 4:35-41
The Gospel reading for today is the story of the storm at sea.
Jesus and his disciples are on the shore of the sea. He says to his
disciples, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” Jesus and the disciples got into the boat and
started to row to the other side of the lake.
While they were crossing the sea, a violent storm arose.
The waves were high and their boat began to fill with water. Jesus,
however, was oblivious to the storm. He was sound asleep in the
boat. Finally, the disciples woke him. They said to him, “Teacher
do you not care that we may perish?”
Jesus then rebuked the wind and the waves. He said:
“Quiet! Be still!” Immediately,
the wind ceased and the waves of the sea became calm. Jesus turned to his
disciples and asked: “Why were you afraid? Do you not yet believe in
me? Do you not have faith?” The
disciples were filled with awe and amazement. They looked at one another
and asked, “Who is this man whom the wind and sea obey?”
Can you remember a time in your life when you experienced a ferocious
storm? You may not have been on a body of water but you may have believed
that you would perish. It may have been a death of a loved one, the loss
of a job, financial difficulties, or a life-threatening medical condition.
How did you respond to this situation? Did you trust
Jesus? Or did you react as the disciples did to the storm at sea: with
fear and trembling? Did you lose faith in God and Jesus? During
painful and difficult times, it is natural to question Jesus. Yet, we
need Jesus especially during the confusing and frightening times in our
life. Do we cry out to him as the disciples did or do we remain
silent?
Jesus wants us to cry out to him and Jesus will respond to our
need, our pain and our fear. Most likely, the situation will not
immediately be resolved, but Jesus will strengthen us and walk with us each and
every day. He will not leave our side. One day, the sun will shine
again!
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