On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took him 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?” Mark 4:35-41
The first thing Jesus did after he rebuked the storms was ask the disciples about their faith. St. Mark’s Gospel reading is symbolic. The storm tossed boat occupied by the disciples with Jesus is an image of the Church. Jesus in the stern “asleep on the cushion” is the same Jesus with us in the tabernacles of our parishes today.
In peace I will lie down and fall asleep,
for you alone, LORD, make me secure. Psalms 4:9
It sometimes may seem like Jesus has abandoned us in the midst of the world’s trials and relentless waves pressing upon us, but with sanctuary lamp lit, we know in faith Jesus is with us in the holy tabernacle of the Church.
Christ dwelt for nine months in the tabernacle of Mary’s womb. He dwells until the end of the ages in the tabernacle of the Church’s faith. He will dwell forever in the knowledge and love of each faithful soul.” – Blessed Isaac of Stella
And sometimes Jesus gets up.
…Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. Matthew 8:26b
Whenever Jesus rises up in your life expect miracles to follow.
Christ is risen. His rising brings life to the dead, forgiveness to sinners, and glory to the saints.” – St. Maximus of Turin
We know Jesus in the boat is symbolic of the presence of Jesus in the Church.
Not in this life, it is true, but only in eternity will God be all in all, yet even now he dwells, whole and undivided, in his temple the Church. – St. Leo the Great
The stormy sea is symbolic of chaos and the mysterious evil forces that proliferate through the world wherever there is no faith found in Jesus the Lord.
When evil days are upon us and the worker of malice gains power, we must attend to our own souls and seek to know the ways of the Lord. – St. Barnabas
Be assured, these demonic powers have no power over the Lord Jesus.
By his wind the heavens were made clear,
his hand pierced the fleeing serpent. Job 26:13
The devil and his legions of minions are sent fleeing at the very name of Jesus.
By invoking the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, Satan is driven out of men. – St. Irenaeus
And what about those terrified disciples thrust about in the waves of the storm? I looked up the root word “terrified.” The Greek word is deilos, and it means to be fearful and faithless. It is also describes Christians who give way to the onslaught of evil by means of cowardice. It would be like a soldier abandoning his foxhole during the onslaught of battle. Wherever we are in life, each of us has to courageously hold fast to our faith in Jesus under trials and persecution , for he is truly on board with us.
Don’t give up.
Fight the beautiful fight of faith.
Bear your share of hardship along with me like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:3
Like the genuine faith of Moses, you’ve got to keep pressing forward and moving ahead in the life God has given you, regardless of any obstacles you are facing.
By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s fury, for he persevered as if seeing the one who is invisible. Hebrews 11:27
Can we see the invisible Jesus in the tabernacle of our church? Can we know it in our bones that only Jesus can calm the tempests and storms in our life?
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Can we stay strong for Jesus by living out our faith in Him?
I arise today through the mighty strength of the Lord of creation. – St. Patrick
In faith, we know Jesus is the Lord of authority. With eternal power beyond human understanding, Jesus has authority over creation, the cosmos, nature, demons, disease and death (Mark 4:35 – 5:43). Jesus’ authority is confirmed in scripture.
When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. Matthew 7:28-29
We Christians have faith in Jesus’ divinity and supreme authority. The disciples were aboard the boat with Jesus, but they weren’t totally on board with Jesus’ divine authority. They did not yell fully comprehend Jesus as Lord, but they knew he was one special rabbi. The disciples knew Jesus was special beyond human understanding.
They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
Some people have more faith in Jesus than others. We see this display of unwavering faith play out even during the days of Jesus’ ministry through all types of people.
The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed
For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. Matthew 8:8-10
Jesus is delighted with our faith in him. Generally, people are amazed at Jesus, but in Matthew’s Gospel Jesus was amazed with the faith of a Gentile centurion.
What about us?
Where do we stand in the mystery of faith?
Do we believe with all of our being Jesus can calm the storms and chaos in our life? Are we present with Jesus in the boat? Do we have complete faith that Jesus is leading each of us across the seas of our life with him on board with us?
…He said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.”
Our great calm, our truest joy in life will be found in Jesus and His Blessed Mother.
Do you know the surest way to learn the will of God? It is the way of prayer to our good Mother Mary! – St. John Vianney
Jesus’ joy is found in our faith and loyalty to him as Lord.
…‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ Matthew 25:21
All praise and glory be to Jesus. If you want to experience more calmness, more joy and amazement in the peace of Christ, invite his Blessed Mother into your life.
Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. John 19:27
Mary, Mother of God, we salute you. – St. Cyril of Alexandria
Our Blessed Mother’s rosary is a meditative prayer on the Joyful, Sorrowful, Luminous and Glorious Mysteries of her divine son Jesus the Gospels.
The rosary is also the Blessed Mother’s favorite prayer.
The Rosary is the most beautiful and the most rich in graces of all prayers; it is the prayer that touches most the Heart of the Mother of God…and if you wish peace to reign in your homes, recite the family Rosary. – St. Pius X
It is interesting to note, the Blessed Mother is present in every Joyful Mystery.
The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) Spiritual Fruit: Humility
The Visitation (Luke 1:39-53) Spiritual Fruit: Love of Neighbor
The Nativity of Our Lord (Luke 2:6-19) Spiritual Fruit: Detachment
The Presentation (Luke 2:32-39) Spiritual Fruit: Obedience
Finding Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:42-52) Spiritual Fruit: Perseverance
If families give Our Lady fifteen minutes a day by reciting the Rosary, I assure them that their homes will become, by God’s grace, peaceful places. – Father Patrick Peyton