The Stormy Sea

Gospel: Mark 4:  35-41

We all desire to cross over to the other shore, to a place free from the rush of the crowd and worldly concerns, to a place of peace and union with God.  But in order to do so we must enter into the boat and cross a sea buffeted by a storm.  To enter the boat is to enter the life of faith, and how we handle the storm is a test of our faith and whether we are worthy of the opposite shore.

The storm comes upon us and the disciples - and us - are afraid.  But why are we afraid?  Is it because we might die? What is it about death that we are afraid of? In any case, we begin to complain to Jesus. who meanwhile is calm and asleep on the boat in the midst of the storm.  Jesus awakes and rebukes us for our lack of faith: why were you afraid?  

So we find that we are not yet worthy of the opposite shore.  We have many fears yet to overcome, and only love can conquer these fears.  But we have taken the first step.  We have entered into the boat, into the life of faith.  Our next task is to have that faith so envelope us that it enables us to rest calmly in the boat in the midst of any storm, just as the Lord Jesus did.