Readings: Job 38:1,8-11; Psalm 107; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Mark 4:35-41
Grace and peace to you my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Let us begin our reflection from today’s Gospel and I would like to keep it really simple, focusing on just two messages that I feel inspired to share.
THE NARRATIVE
The Gospel of today narrates what happened while Jesus and His disciples were crossing over to the other side of the sea of Galilee.
How they battled with a violent storm and how Jesus rebuked the storm.
THE APPLICATION
Our lives today are also full of storms. Storms from without – in our family, in our jobs, in our relationships, in our health, our education, in our vocation, in our business etc.
The boat was fine as long as it was above the water. The problem was when the water begins to enter the boat.
In the same way, we are fine as long as our boats are above the water, but when the storm is causing the waves to break into our boat, that is when the troubles around begin to enter our hearts. They cause great fear, worry, anxiety, depression, and doubt that God cares.
THREE MESSAGES FOR US TODAY
A. Do you not care?
Is this not the concern of many of us? Lord, do you not care? Do you not see what I am going through? Are you not going to help me?
The answer is that He cares, He sees and He is there with you. He may seem asleep or far but He is there and because He is there, no matter how violent your storms are, you will see the end of it.
In the First Reading, we see how the storm around Job was already causing a violent storm within him and like the disciples, he was asking the Lord, “Do you not care? Why are you indifferent when I am perishing?”
God answered Job’s question by reminding him that He is God, greater than any storm, Master of the universe, and that Job should trust and be still and know that He is God.
God says the storm will not see your end, you will see the end of the storm because I am here and I care.
B. When Jesus is with us, we can not perish.
There was no way that the disciples would have perished in the boat when Jesus was there. The marriage feast at Cana in Galilee didn’t end in disgrace and shame simply because Jesus was there.
This is why one of the most powerful prayers is, “The Lord be with you.” Yes, because if the Lord is with you and at your side, you are safe, you are sorted, you are insured.
When we are with Jesus and He is with and in us, no matter what we face, we shall overcome. In the Second Reading, St. Paul says that for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation, a new strength, a new hope, power, grace, a new miracle and victory.
The presence of Jesus in any home, family, journey, relationship, event, decision, program, agenda etc makes a difference. No matter how things look, once Jesus is with us and we allow Him to take over, the story will change and all will be well again.
C. The storm of our lives is an opportunity for us to witness the power and love of God.
The storm that the disciples experienced was a theology class for them. They were taken to the field to experience the power of God which would help shape their understanding of the person of Christ.
Sometimes, God reveals Himself to us not in the Church setting but in the storm setting. Sometimes God grows our faith not through Bible reading but when our life is out of rhythm.
Some of us have grown in faith and understanding today because of the storms we have faced and how God showed up for us.
God used a thorn to teach Paul the power of grace. He also uses storms to build our faith.
Let us keep this in mind as we face our storms – the greater the storm, the greater the manifestation of the power and the glory of God. Great storms lead to great testimonies.
Let us pray
Jesus, calmer of storms, I surrender the storms around me and the storms within me into your hands. Increase my faith in you and give me your grace. Teach me to trust in you and rest in your arms so that I may experience peace again, Amen.
Sermon preached by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on June 23, 2024.