WATCHWORD:
Late at night, the boat was far out at sea; Jesus was still by himself on land. He could see his men struggling with the oars, the wind having come up against them. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them, walking on the sea. He intended to go right by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and screamed, scared to death. Jesus was quick to comfort them: “Courage! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” As soon as he climbed into the boat, the wind died down. They were stunned, shaking their heads, wondering what was going on. They didn’t understand what he had done at the supper. None of this had yet penetrated their hearts. Mark 6:47-52 The Message
Late that day he said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side.” They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, “Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?” Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith at all?” They were in absolute awe, staggered. “Who is this, anyway?” they asked. “Wind and sea at his beck and call!” Mark 4:35-41 The Message
Meditation:
Storm at Sea
After the catch in the throat
that signaled terror at your leaving
and the wild pounding against the boat,
after fearing the walk upon the waters, heaving
the salty sea waves’ invitation to float,
you came inside and silently grieving
with me, pretended not to note
my cowardice and non-believing.
—Murray Bodo
We are still on the Sea of Galilee with the fishermen, alone. Jesus was somewhere else, praying on the shore. They know this lake, this unpredictable body of water that has yielded their livelihood so faithfully. Yet they know that the winds and the storms suddenly crest the heights of Migdal and crash down upon them with only the briefest of warnings.
There they were, fresh from witnessing wondrous events, miracles of healing, and, most recently, feeding of thousands. As they labored on the oars they spoke of their amazement of what they had seen and heard. Then, there was a freshening of the breeze which alerted them to the approaching storm. The gentle breeze turned into a strong wind, and the placid waters turned into whitecaps, and the waves splashed into the boat, and their minds shifted to their own survival, their amazement turned to fear.
Can you put yourself in that situation? Have you ever been “at sea”? Lost in your own anxiety and fear? Uncertain which way to turn? Did you find Jesus helping you find peace and calmness in the midst of your storms? I think that’s what we all want in our faith. We believe in the resurrection. We believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We believe that the Holy Spirit is part of God dwelling within us. We believe, we believe, and yet…
The diagnosis hits us hard, our mind spins. The late-night phone call comes, and we learn of a tragedy. We find ourselves unable to breathe with sharp chest pains and are filled with panic. What are your first thoughts? How can we get through this? How can that be, she is so young. First thoughts? Call the EMTs! Call a loved one.
In those crisis, we rely on our instincts, God-given instincts, and after all that is required has been done, we turn to our Lord and Savior, knowing He’s been there all along. He comes to us walking on the waves, defying the winds, bringing peace to the storm in your heart.
Our faith is not a first aid kit. Our faith is not a “break glass and pray” solution. Our loving God does not come to us just because we pray, but because he is a loving God and He knows what we are going through. Yes, and He pretends “not to note my cowardice and non-believing.”
Our prayers are filled with gratitude for His presence there in our boat, now and forever. Amen.
Trying to Do Better with Humor:
An Irish boy had heard stories of his father, and his grandfather, and his father before, that on their 18th birthdays they walked across the lake from their homestead to the village to get their first drink at the old pub on the other side of the lake. This was part of the legend that nothing will stand in the way of a man in his family and his drink.
So, the boy waited until the hot summer day of his 18th birthday, and he assumed that it was now his turn to continue the legend of his father, and his grandfather, and his father before that. He went out onto the dock, stepping out onto the water, and immediately fell in.
Walking back, soaking wet, he went to his grandma to tell her that he could not walk across the lake like his father, and his grandfather, and his father before that. He said, I’ve been a good Irish boy: I love my mother; I pray to Our Lady the Holy Virgin; and I don’t like Protestants. Why am I not as holy as my ancestors? The grandma said, you’re not as smart as they were!
The boy was even more ashamed, and a little angry. He asked, crying, “why am I not as smart as my ancestors!”
The grandma said, your father, and your grandfather, and his father before that, were all born in January! This is August!
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Grant us grace to walk more and more in Your will and not our own. I thank You Jesus for this very day that You have blessed us with. We are just mere human beings. Who are we to deserve all this love? But because you are the Great I Am, nothing is impossible and Your love is great. It is who You are, Jesus. Thank You for everything, in Jesus’ blessed name. Amen.
