Psalms 31 *35; Isaiah 45:18-25; Ephesians 6:1-9; Mark 4:35-41Jesus has just left a great crowd of people by the sea, after teaching them and his disciples. He has got to be exhausted at this point and asks his disciples to take him across the sea to the other side. They all clamber into boats and Jesus promptly falls asleep. A storm brews up almost swamping the boat. The disciples wake Jesus up saying How can you sleep at a time like this? Jesus awakes, calms the seas and wind and then asks those with him Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? And they are amazed at him.
What are we to think about based on this story? When the winds are buffeting our boat and the seas of our turmoil seem to be about to swamp us, what do we do? How do we act when we are beset with woes and fright, when our world seems to be about to fall apart? It seems to me that we are asked today, when in those fearful situations, to take a step back, remember to breath, center ourselves in prayer and Jesus' embrace, and then, with a calm, new outlook, face those raging storms with faith and the knowledge that no matter what happens, no matter how bad it might get, we are not alone and we are deeply loved. For we are. Breath, pray, seek calmness to face what's out there.
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Copyright 2009, John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.
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