Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Today’s Gospel begins with Jesus and the disciples in a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee when they encounter a violent wind that causes the waves to break over the boat. Certainly, this was a situation of grave danger. Yet, notice the detail that St. Mark gives in his account: “Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.”
There are, to be sure, some people that can sleep through anything, but it is highly improbable that anybody would have been able to sleep in a boat that was rocking from side to side and beginning to fill with water as people were fumbling about to save themselves.
However, Jesus seemed to have no worries. Jesus was calm as he slept on his cushion. He was the perfect model of a person who had no fear.
The disciples woke Jesus in desperation, saying to him, “Do you not care that we are perishing?”
Jesus, however, is only just beginning to reveal himself to his followers. They do not know the extent of his divine power. Yet today, he will give them insight into his true identity. He says over the storm, “Quiet! Be still!” and the raging wind and breaking waters obeyed him.
Jesus said to them, “Do you not yet have faith?” and filled with awe, they wondered who Jesus really was. His identity would only be fully revealed on the cross, when a centurion looked to his deceased body and said, “Truly, this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).
That centurion’s faith is our faith too. Jesus is the Son of God, eternal with the Father from the beginning. Jesus is the Word through whom all things came to be, “and without him nothing came to be,” according to the Gospel of St. John (see John 1:3).
There are times in our lives when all seems to be lost. Sometimes life can be turbulent. What are your greatest concerns today? Moreover, if you are sailing on smooth waters right now, you probably have experienced times of choppy waters and you probably know someone who is in imminent danger of drowning even now. Today’s Gospel gives us reassurance. Have faith!
Yes, Jesus sometimes seems asleep at the stern of a storm tossed boat, but he knows exactly what is going on and how he will resolve it. He does care when it appears that we are perishing.
Take a breath and make an act of faith in Jesus, step back and stand in awe of the God who is in charge of all things. As God reminded Job, if God can create and order the universe out of nothing, then God can bring order and good to our lives too. He wants to save us after all. The boat in today’s Gospel eventually made it safe and sound to the other side. Why? Because Jesus was in the boat. He is with us too. Have faith.
Finally, to all the dads out there, including our adoptive and spiritual fathers — Happy Father’s Day.
God bless you and those you love.