Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Living with uncertainty is part of the human condition. We do not know what will happen tomorrow or even in the next hour. Most of the time we just continue to move forward in our daily routine not terribly concerned about what tomorrow will bring. Then something shocking occurs- an accident, a diagnosis of cancer, a pandemic. Suddenly the future seems unsure and there is an increasing worry about what will happen. In today’s gospel, Jesus reminds the disciples to have faith when situations arise that may be overwhelming. Jesus calls us to increase our faith in Him as well when we face challenges that seem insurmountable. Jesus desires us to trust in God’s love for us no matter the circumstances.
In today’s gospel, the disciples take Jesus “just as he was” in their boat to cross to the other side. I am struck by the way that Jesus is described in this passage. Although there are no particulars, it seems as though there is something about Jesus that implies that He is not completely right. As I reflect on this passage, Jesus falls fast asleep on the boat in the raging seas. Could it be that Jesus is completely exhausted from the difficult work of ministering to the many crowds? We may be given a glimpse into the humanity of Jesus and some of the struggles that He experienced during the course of His ministry. The disciples are amazed that Jesus can sleep through the tempest, and they wake Him up wondering, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus awakens, calms the sea, and then turns to the disciples asking them, “Why are you terrified: Do you not yet have faith?” The disciples are amazed at Jesus’ ability to calm the sea, and I suspect their faith in Jesus grows after experiencing Jesus’ power over nature. As I reflect on the disciples and their journey with Jesus, I realize that they also experience fear, doubt, and anxiety about various aspects of their lives. Even though they witness the great love and power of Jesus in His ministry, they have moments when they fall apart (leaving Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane) and moments of grace- proclaiming the gospel and giving their lives to spread the Good News. It is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that provides the courage and wisdom they need for their faith to grow and deepen. It is the Spirit that provides the assurance that God’s presence and God’s love will never fail.
As disciples of Christ, we also face times when the situation seems overwhelming. Jesus asks us, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” I believe that deepening our faith requires the grace of the Spirit which God readily shares with us through prayer and sacrament. I also find that the Ignatian principle of detachment or indifference is helpful in finding greater peace during times of struggle. ‘The grace of indifference or detachment is often what we hope for in prayer. It is the place where we have surrendered to God the outcome of our hopes, fears, and worries, and we trust God enough that no matter what happens, “God’s grace will be enough for me.”’(Becky Eldridge) In detachment, there is a surrender to God recognizing that whatever the outcome- God will be there-and all will be well. It is faith that allows us to step forward believing in the Providence of God. When we are able to place ourselves in God’s Hands, and accept whatever the future holds, then we come to experience a profound peace. I know that this is where I want to be, but I know that I am like the disciples where I have times when I fall apart and times when grace leads the way.
Jesus understands the challenges of being human even as He experienced the fatigue and frustrations during His ministry. He does not deny that there will be difficulties, but Jesus assures us that there is the one thing we can always be certain about- God’s great love for us and for all creation.
Loving God, Jesus shares with us Your great love and reminds us that this love will never fail. Pour out Your Spirit on us, so we can deepen our faith in You. May Your love provide us the courage and wisdom to go forth and share this love with the world around us. We pray this in Christ’s name. AMEN.
Marylynn Herchline