The Calming of a Storm at Sea

Today's Reflections   

 

                       

 

The Calming of a Storm at Sea 

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Mk 4:35-41

³⁵[One] day, as evening drew on, [Jesus] said to [his disciples], “Let us cross to the other side.” ³⁶Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. ³⁷A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.

³⁸Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. ⁴⁰Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” ⁴¹They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

JESUS WAS IN THE STERN, ASLEEP. Many Jews fear the sea, regarding it as a symbol of chaos and a realm of evil teeming with terrible sea monsters to which hapless human beings fall prey.

Jesus instead falls into a deep sleep while crossing the sea even as huge waves are swamping the boat. Great fear strikes the hearts of his disciples and leads them to think that Jesus does not care for them. As Jesus awakes, he rebukes the wind and calms the angry sea, demonstrating both his power over the forces of nature and his concern for the disciples.

Genesis describes the Creator God separating water from dry land, sustaining the created world, and saving Noah and his family in the midst of the great flood. Exodus presents the power of the Redeemer God who parted the Red Sea to allow Moses and his people to cross from slavery into freedom. The Creator God in Genesis and the Redeemer God in Exodus is one and the same God residing in the person of Jesus. Calming the storm at sea, Jesus assures the disciples of his presence, power, guidance, and teaching as they sail in the boat of Peter, the Church.

Our faith in Jesus is truly tested

when violent waves are tossing our boat

to the point of sinking and no help seems to come.