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Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said
to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke
up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”
The wind ceased and there was great calm. Mark 4:38–39
Do you desire to hear God speak to you? The most common way this
happens is through prayerful meditation on the Gospels. Over the
centuries, the saints have prayerfully pondered the Gospels and
have offered various insights on the stories and our Lord’s
actions. Their insights are not primarily an intellectual exercise.
Rather, they are first an exercise of prayer and meditation,
revealing that the Scriptures have various layers of depth and
meaning.
One Church Father, Saint Bede, explains from his prayerful
pondering of today’s Gospel passage that the boat in which Jesus
crossed the sea represents the Cross by which safe passage is
obtained to arrive at the shores of Heaven. The other boats that
followed represent those who have faith in the Cross of Christ and
follow. Though they suffer the waves of temptation and hardship,
they press on, relying upon the saving power of the Cross. Jesus
being asleep represents His sleep of death, and His wakening
represents His resurrection. The pleas of the disciples represent
our need to turn to Jesus during the storms and temptations of
life. The rebuke of the waves and the ensuing calm reveal the grace
won by His death and resurrection, which is able to silence the
demons and disordered passions. The fear that the disciples
encountered points to our own fear that results from a lack of
faith and trust in God.
God is able to speak these and many other truths to us through His
actions and words contained in the Scriptures. There is no limit to
the depth and meaning we can receive through His holy Word.
Therefore, though it is useful to reflect upon the saints’ various
interpretations of the Gospels, it is also very important to
reflect upon these passages ourselves, so as to allow our Lord to
speak to us the message we need to hear.
Reflect, today, upon this Gospel scene. Try to find time to slowly
read today’s Gospel from beginning to end. Read a sentence and then
close your eyes and try to imagine it. See Jesus entering the boat.
Ponder the boat being an image of the Cross. See the sea as the
many evils within this world. Consider the fear the disciples
encountered during the storm. See yourself in that boat, waking our
Lord. Listen to Him silence the waves and restore peace. Hear Him
say to you about your own struggles in life: “Why are you
terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” As you prayerfully meditate
upon this and other Gospel passages, know that God will speak to
you and reveal to you the meaning that He wishes to communicate to
you today.
My sleeping Lord, as I endure the many storms of life, may I
always have faith in the saving power of Your Cross and
Resurrection. May I always call upon You to calm the storms and
hear You speak to me the many truths I need to hear. Jesus, I trust
in You.
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catholic-daily-reflections.com
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Featured images above: Ludolf Backhuysen - Christ in the Storm on
the Sea of Galilee [1695], via flickr
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