“The wind died down, and there was a great calm. Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘why are you frightened?” (Mk 4:21)

 “The wind died down, and there was a great calm. Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘why are you frightened? Have you still no faith?” (Mk 4:21) 

Today’s Passages: Mk 4:35-41; Heb 11:1-2, 8-19

Meditation: Today’s meditation verse is a call for renewal of our faith in Jesus. This miracle narrative is quite different from the miracle of Jesus walking on the water (Mt 14:22-33; Mk 6:45-52; Jn 6:15-21). There also we find the disciples were caught up in storm and were terrified, but Jesus came to their help and wind died down. One of the differences between them, we notice, is that Jesus is with them in this narrative.

In the other narrative Jesus was far away from them on the mountain top (Mk 6:46). So it is quite natural that they got frightened and screamed. In today’s narrative Jesus is with the disciples in the same boat, yet they were terrified. Another interesting element to be noted is their question, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?” (Mk 4:38) Similar comments we also might have heard during some of our journeys especially when drivers drive so fast.

But, today our focus of attention is on Jesus response to disciples’ cry. Jesus stood up and commanded the wind, “Be quiet!” and he said to the waves, “Be still!” There follows our meditation verse, “The wind died down, and there was a great calm. Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘why are you frightened? Have you still no faith?” (Mk 4:21) Jesus creates wonderfully a great atmosphere for teaching them about faith. So has to be in our lives too even for correction.

It is not the question that whether Jesus was there in the boat with them or not. The real question is whether he had a place in their heart or not. Jesus had room for them in his heart and therefore, he could reach and save them in their peril or destruction. He was praying on the top of hill but when “he saw that his disciples were straining at the oars, because they were rowing against the wind,.. he came to them.” (Mk 6:48) Keeping your heart in the promises of the Lord may be otherwise defined faith.

Let us see two verses from today’s second reading and finish our reflection. “They did not keep thinking about the country they had left; if they had, they would have had the chance to return. Instead, it was a better country they longed for, the heavenly country. And so God is not ashamed for them to call him their God, because he has prepared a city for them.” (Heb 11:15, 16) In short, “It was by their faith that people of ancient times won God’s approval.” (Heb 11:2)

 Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Lord, have mercy on us all. By being with us, Lord, you prove yourself Emmanuel day by day, however, often we fail to understand your presence in our life. Help our little faith and bless us with your forgiveness and love. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Have a blissful Saturday!