Safety in the Storm (Ann)

"On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:

'Let us cross to the other side.'

Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.

And other boats were with him.

A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,

so that it was already filling up.

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.

Then he asked them, 'Why are you terrified?

Do you not yet have faith?'

They were filled with great awe and said to one another,

'Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?'"

Mark 4:35-41

I heard this Gospel reading at Mass one Sunday and a few days later, I found myself trying to calm my daughter during a thunderstorm. She was inconsolable and I tried to alleviate her fears by holding her closely and repeating to her over and over that she is safe, loved, and heard. She slowly started to calm in my arms as I repeated the words to her and finally fell asleep peacefully. As I looked at my daughter sleeping in my arms, Mark's Gospel took on a new meaning. Jesus is that calm, steady presence in life's storms, holding us closely and reminding us that we are always safe, loved, and heard with God our Father--all we need to do is to be still and listen to Him.

Embrace the stillness and peace!