GOSPEL READING:
Mark 4:35-4135 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care if we perish?" 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?" 41 And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?"
Meditation: How can we fight fear with faith? Jesus'
sleeping presence on the storm-tossed sea reveals the sleeping
faith of his disciples. They feared for their lives even though
their Lord and Master was with them in the boat. They were asleep
to Christ while he was present to them in their hour of need. The
Lord is ever present to us. And in our time of testing he asks the
same question: Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? Do
you recognize the Lord's presence with you, especially when you
meet the storms of adversity, sorrow, and temptation? Whenever we
encounter trouble, the Lord is there with the same reassuring
message: "It is I, do not be afraid."
Faith must be nourished with the Word of God
What are the characteristics of faith and how can we grow in it?
Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to us. Believing is
only possible by grace and the help of the Holy Spirit, who moves
the heart and who opens the eyes of the mind to understand and
accept the truth which God has revealed to us. Faith enables us to
relate to God rightly and confidently, with trust and reliance, by
believing and adhering to his word, because he is utterly reliable
and trustworthy. If we want to live, grow, and persevere in faith,
then it must be nourished with the word of God.
Christ's love and truth strengthen us in faith and trust
Fear does not need to cripple us from taking right action or rob
us of our trust and reliance on God. Courage working with faith
enables us to embrace God's word of truth and love with confidence
and to act on it with firm hope in God's promises. The love of God
strengthens us in our faith and trust in him and enables us to act
with justice and kindness towards our neighbor even in the face of
opposition or harm. Do you allow the love of Christ to rule in
your heart and mind, and to move your will to choose what is good
in accordance with his will?
Lord Jesus, increase my faith in your redeeming love and power that I may always recognize your abiding presence with me. And give me courage to do your will in all circumstances.
Psalm 51:12-17
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth your praise.
16 For you have no delight in sacrifice; were I to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.
17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Awakening the Christ asleep within you, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"When you have to listen to abuse, that means you are being
buffeted by the wind. When your anger is roused, you are being
tossed by the waves. So when the winds blow and the waves mount
high, the boat is in danger, your heart is imperiled, your heart
is taking a battering. On hearing yourself insulted, you long to
retaliate; but the joy of revenge brings with it another kind of
misfortune - shipwreck. Why is this? Because Christ is asleep in
you. What do I mean? I mean you have forgotten his presence. Rouse
him, then; remember him, let him keep watch within you, pay heed
to him... A temptation arises: it is the wind. It disturbs you: it
is the surging of the sea. This is the moment to awaken Christ and
let him remind you of those words: 'Who can this be? Even the
winds and the sea obey him." (excerpt from Sermons
63:1-3)
