Over the past few years, we found ourselves in the midst of a great storm, being tossed about like a small boat in
the midst of a great sea. In the depths of the pandemic we lived through great loss, pain and suffering and many
of us turned to Jesus and said, “Teacher do you not care that we are perishing?” Some of us turned to Jesus and
flung our arms around him as a life jacket and rode out that great storm with him as our solace and security.
But, in the midst of all of the fear, loss, and grief we also reached out to one another and to “the stranger” knowing them to be “sisters and brothers” in need. Even though you feared for yourself, for your family and for your loved ones, you sought to help those in need! Your generosity of heart, in the midst of a great storm, was absolutely incredible and continues to be amazing!
In todays Gospel, Jesus and the disciples are heading to the “other side” of the sea of Galilee, moving from the mainly Jewish enclave to a more Gentile region. This shows a widening of Jesus’ ministry, he is moving beyond
preaching the “Good News” to the people of Israel and is reaching out to non-Jews, to those “outside” his cultural and religious group. He is expanding his ministry to include “the others”!
The disciples show great fear because their boat is about to capsize and Jesus is slumbering away! Terrified, they awaken him seeking his help and he rebukes the wind and the waves, and they become calm. Jesus asks “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” And the disciples are amazed, and ask “who then is this, whom even wind and sea obey?” Jesus ties their fear to a lack of faith, basically saying, “do you not yet know who I am, so why are you surprised at what I do?”
By this time in their following of Jesus, the disciples have already seen Jesus perform many miracles and cure many people: the man with the withered hand, Simon’s mother-in-law, the man with the unclean spirit and the cleansing of the leper, as well as many others. So, who did they think he was at this point in their journey with him? Jesus had already appointed “the twelve” and had sent them out to preach “the message”! What were they missing?
I must admit there is something comforting in their humanness, in their lack of fully comprehending who Jesus was. It puts me a bit at ease! Each of us on our journey with Jesus must pass through howling winds and raging seas and must rely on Jesus to help us make it through the storms of our lives. And we must remember that eventually they do “get it” and they leave the security of the “locked” upper room and risk their lives preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ!
How am I being called to leave the security of my “upper room” to go out into the world and preach the Good News of Jesus Christ by what I say and by what I do?
Blessings,
Fr. Tim
the midst of a great sea. In the depths of the pandemic we lived through great loss, pain and suffering and many
of us turned to Jesus and said, “Teacher do you not care that we are perishing?” Some of us turned to Jesus and
flung our arms around him as a life jacket and rode out that great storm with him as our solace and security.
But, in the midst of all of the fear, loss, and grief we also reached out to one another and to “the stranger” knowing them to be “sisters and brothers” in need. Even though you feared for yourself, for your family and for your loved ones, you sought to help those in need! Your generosity of heart, in the midst of a great storm, was absolutely incredible and continues to be amazing!
In todays Gospel, Jesus and the disciples are heading to the “other side” of the sea of Galilee, moving from the mainly Jewish enclave to a more Gentile region. This shows a widening of Jesus’ ministry, he is moving beyond
preaching the “Good News” to the people of Israel and is reaching out to non-Jews, to those “outside” his cultural and religious group. He is expanding his ministry to include “the others”!
The disciples show great fear because their boat is about to capsize and Jesus is slumbering away! Terrified, they awaken him seeking his help and he rebukes the wind and the waves, and they become calm. Jesus asks “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” And the disciples are amazed, and ask “who then is this, whom even wind and sea obey?” Jesus ties their fear to a lack of faith, basically saying, “do you not yet know who I am, so why are you surprised at what I do?”
By this time in their following of Jesus, the disciples have already seen Jesus perform many miracles and cure many people: the man with the withered hand, Simon’s mother-in-law, the man with the unclean spirit and the cleansing of the leper, as well as many others. So, who did they think he was at this point in their journey with him? Jesus had already appointed “the twelve” and had sent them out to preach “the message”! What were they missing?
I must admit there is something comforting in their humanness, in their lack of fully comprehending who Jesus was. It puts me a bit at ease! Each of us on our journey with Jesus must pass through howling winds and raging seas and must rely on Jesus to help us make it through the storms of our lives. And we must remember that eventually they do “get it” and they leave the security of the “locked” upper room and risk their lives preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ!
How am I being called to leave the security of my “upper room” to go out into the world and preach the Good News of Jesus Christ by what I say and by what I do?
Blessings,
Fr. Tim
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