READ SCRIPTURE (Mark 4:35-41)
When evening had come, Jesus said to the disciples, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" Jesus woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
REFLECT ON THE READING
Let the storm at sea stand for all that threatens life, for evil and for death. Today's readings are full of such threats. Paul's life has been marked by afflictions, some of which sound familiar to us: hardships, calamities, riots, sleepless nights. The whole book of Job tells the story of a man of suffering whose very life cries out to God. And the disciples in the boat are afraid, complaining to Jesus. We are in the same boat and we too are often afraid. At first Jesus seems to be quite hidden, asleep, silent. But then, with the disciples, we discover that all the power of God to create and hold all things, the very power that answered Job by appearing in the whirlwind, is found in Jesus Christ. Just so, in Mark Jesus seems to be hidden in suffering on the cross. But now is the day of salvation. By the power of the Spirit, the risen one is with us in our reading of the scriptures and in our keeping of his meal. In that presence, God says to all that threatens life, "Thus far and no farther!" Opening our hearts wide to that word we also open our hearts wide to our neighbors' need. With Paul, we are dying, and see—we are alive!
PRAY TOGETHER
O God of creation, eternal majesty, you preside over land and sea, sunshine and storm. By your strength pilot us, by your power preserve us, by your wisdom instruct us, and by your hand protect us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
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