Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In about two days, I must leave home again to return to my ministry in Dayton. As I have said after my earlier visits, every time I leave home, I leave part of me behind and I bring part of my home with me to Dayton. I am finding it harder yet again. It is probably because dad is weaker than before. Every time dad and I ventured out of the house, I have had to hold his hand all the way. Mom is not getting any younger. My parents understand the reason I must leave, but they also wish I lived closer. For me, however, more than even before, leaving home will be an act of faith. It is going to every ounce of faith in me to believe that my parents will be in God’s hands in my absence. Jesus’ words in today’s gospel are very poignant and it seems that they are directed toward me. Jesus said, “He said, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" (Mk 4:40).
I find today’s gospel reading very interesting in multiple levels. In my three points I would like to propose ways in which today’s gospel can help us in our life as disciples of Jesus.
1. Over to the Other Side. Today’s gospel begins with Jesus proposing to his disciples, “Let us cross over the other side.” (Mk 4:35). I find Jesus proposal very intriguing. I wonder if this was an utterly innocent proposal. Perhaps the end of the story gives us the reason for Jesus’ proposal. At the end of the storm, Jesus said to the disciples, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" In other words, Jesus had hoped that by now the disciples would be people of greater faith in him. The disciples, however, were far from the kind of faith that Jesus wanted them to have. Perhaps they were exactly where I am in my faith as I prepare to leave home for Dayton. Thus, it seems to me that Jesus was not merely proposing that they cross over to the other side of the lake but cross over to the other side in following Jesus. I call it the other side of faith. Jesus was really calling his disciples to follow him more closely, more radically, and more faithfully. It is not that the disciples were not serious followers already. In fact, they had left their families, their livelihood, and their past to follow Jesus. But, in my opinion, Jesus was calling them to deeper commitment and faith.
2. Shall we? The second lesson we learn from today’s gospel is that discipleship is a journey. Learning to follow Jesus in faith is a life-long process. Let us remember that the disciples were with Jesus already for quite some before the storm struck the boat. Yet, when crisis came upon them, they panicked. Their experience of the storm was perhaps necessary to bring to their consciousness their need to grow in faith. Similarly, perhaps there are areas in our lives where we need to grow deeper and stronger in our faith. I am suggesting that in obedience to Jesus’ call to cross over to the other side in our discipleship, let us choose one area where we want to grow. Perhaps we need to cross over to the other side in our daily prayer; may be it is an illness and we are terrified; or it is a precarious financial situation and we are near panic; or it is a strained relationship and we need to take the first step toward reconciliation. Let us choose one area where we need to accept Jesus’ invitation to cross over to the other side. Really, Let us cross over to the other side. Let us not be terrified. Let us have faith. Let us be disciples!
3. “Who then is This?" Besides exposing the weakness of the disciples the story also tells us something about the man asleep in the boat. The gospel ends with the words, “They [the disciples] were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” The purpose of the story of the calming of the storm is to introduce Jesus as the Son of God. This is the same God, who, in today’s first reading asks Job, “Who shut within doors the sea, when it burst forth from the womb; when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling bands? When I set limits for it and fastened the bar of its door, and said: Thus far shall you come but no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stilled!” (Job 38:8-11). The story of the calming of the sea invites us to be in awe of Jesus just like the disciples were. Our discipleship journey begins when we are in awe of the God we are invited to follow. Every storm that hits our boat can also be a time for us to discover our awesome God. Every crisis is also opportunity to grow deeper in faith. Every time we are terrified is also an opportunity for us to strengthen our discipleship.
As we come to celebrate this Eucharist, perhaps we are like the disciples. We are in this little boat with Jesus. Let us bring our entire life and lay it at his feet. He can calm every storm; he can give us the calm we need. Let us be in awe of him as we receive his body and blood and give him profound homage. Let us cross over to the other side in our discipleship. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph