Reflection
Today is Saturday, January 31st. It is the Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time. Our Gospel reading is one we all are familiar with. It is the story of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee. Yet, in all this passage has to offer, it was three simple words that spoke to me as I sat with Mark’s passage – THEY WOKE HIM!
In the Gospel, the disciples are crossing to the other side of the sea and Jesus is with them asleep, on a cushion, in the stern. The winds of a squall come up suddenly, and likely unexpectantly, as there was no maritime equipment at that time. The waves are breaking over the side of the boat placing it at risk of capsizing. Anxious and unsure – THEY WOKE HIM!
I wonder what would have happened if the disciples did not wake Jesus. What would the result have been if they tried to navigate the storm on their own? Would they have all perished?
One thing for sure is the miracle never would have happened if they had not awakened Jesus. The command “Quiet! Be Still!” would never have been given. The wind would not have ceased. There never would have been great calm. The disciples may have remained terrified. They may not have increased in faith.
Why did those three words resonate with me? I look back at the times in my life when a storm rose in my life. Often, I was blind to the presence of Jesus in my “boat”. There were times when I recognized him in my “stern”, but was too pride-filled to wake Him, trusting I could get through it on my own. Maybe, deep down, I felt unworthy of disturbing the “master”.
Admittedly, there were times when I called on Christ and the storm did not miraculously cease, but I was comforted by the presence of Jesus. There were times when Jesus and I simply got to “the other side” of grief, illness, mourning, estrangement or my own sinfulness. There were times the command “Quiet! Be Still!” was meant for me, not the storm. I needed to obey, and let Jesus captain my ship. When I did, I was less terrified and I grew in faith.
Christ with me – that was the only miracle I really needed.
What storms may be happening in your life? Could Jesus being saying to you today – Wake Me!