He Still Calms Storms

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, June 23rd, 2024:
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Mark
​4.35-41

When evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took Jesus 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?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.

Jesus 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?”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

As I write this, we are experiencing a physical and metaphorical storm. The rain is pounding outside, bouncing so hard against the ground I can hear it thundering away over all the ambient sound of our busy house. The metaphorical storm isn’t quiet either — daily Covid numbers, bi-weekly bloodwork, personal and global storm — clattering away in perfect disharmony. The boat is starting to fill with water, so I’m bailing as much as I can just to keep myself afloat. And there’s Jesus — apparently asleep in the boat while I’m bailing.

I’m sure that many people of faith worldwide have turned to God, crying out, “[D]o you not care that we are perishing?” It’s easy to fall prey to that kind of despair, especially in such a traumatic time. Every person I know has experienced a crisis this year, and that crisis has also come with a challenge to their faith. We’ve all dealt with it differently, but this phrase, “[D]o you not care that we are perishing?” has a familiar ring to it.

On this occasion in the Gospel, Jesus calmed the storm. He called the Apostles to have faith. He gave them an incontrovertible sign of His love for them. Later in their lives, all but one of those Apostles were martyred for the faith. Jesus had demonstrated His care for them, first by saving their lives but in the end by offering them a life that no storm could take away from them. When they understood that they were promised eternal life, the martyrdom they experienced in this life was an opportunity to testify to their faith and not a crisis in need of solving.

There have been so many storms when the Lord has calmed the sea for my family. A job that came as though by grace. Eyesight restored. Healing granted. God has proven again and again that He cares tremendously whether we live or die. But all of these interventions are a mere prelude to the salvation being offered to me by God. That is where my faith and trust are engaged. I am invited to believe that Christ’s love for me extends not just to the momentary trials, but indeed to my life itself.

As the rain calms down outside, I am reminded that Jesus can calm the storm in my own heart, if I have the faith to accept it. I can be calm in the face of trial and crisis because I have faith in God’s promises to me. God’s love follows me through storm and calm, and promises safe harbour at the end of my journey.

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​Originally published on June 18, 2021, by Stéphanie Potter

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