SATURDAY JANUARY 27,2024
SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
2 Samuel 12:1-7. 10-17
Mark 4: 35-41
JESUS IN OUR BOAT OF LIFE WILL ALWAYS CALM THE STORMS IN OUR LIVES
The journey of Jesus with his disciples through the sea was to teach them a great lesson about dependence and who to recline on in the thickets, depressing and frustrating situations of life. Jesus stays in the boat with his disciples and slept off and the great storm came hitting the boat and filling the boat to sinking point. Yet Jesus was still in the boat fast asleep and unperturbed by the wind, storm and the water gushing into the boat.
The situation was frightening and frustrating to the disciples. They had no option but to wake the sleeping Saviour who was in their midst. And the message they gave him was not just requesting his help but asking him why he was unperturbed at the peril. “Teacher, do you not care if we perish.”?
Really, the right question was asked. Is Jesus perturbed by our despicable situations? Is he ever concerned about our predicaments? To show that he cares, and that he only wants to elicit faith and trust in himself, he went ahead to talk to the storm and the wind. He addresses the situation saying, “Peace!!! Be calm.”
The indication Jesus gives us is to the fact that life presents us situations that are inimical, threatening, frightening, always frustrating and depressing. Situations that sets one distressed, raises our blood pressure, keeps our anxiety high, and wants to bring us to our kneels by breaking us. Situations that some may loose hope in life, cause many to take the shortest route of suicide, and even harm others for no cause. Life can be depressing and uncomfortable at these times.
But the issue is that the journey of life comes with it a most soothing balm which is the presence of Jesus. Jesus is always in our boat of life. Recognizing him is yet another thing or stage. But he is there with us to journey with us and to calm the storms that may arise no matter how serious the storm may be.
And Jesus shows that the storms are not difficult to calm because he rules over them and he exists before them and he has power over them. They fizzle out at his command and they bow at his orders. His gentle words brings peace and calms the storms.
He teaches us to always have recourse to him as the disciples did. Call on him, run to him, wake him up, seek his counsel, draw near to him, shout his name and then trust in him, recline upon his power, wait for his actions and rest in his peace. Jesus never fails and has always won his battles no matter how serious. Even on Calvary, on the cross, he won the battle over our lives. Do not give up, he says and never be dismayed he warns us. Recline always in him.
Even the king David in his storms of sinfulness and iniquities reclined upon his mercy and waited upon him. Recognizing that he has sinned and deviated from the way, he judged his actions and sentences himself after the narrative of Nathan the prophet. King David condemned himself but even went ahead to plead for mercy and the Lord listened to him. God recognizes our voices and heart desires and never abandons us in our strife, storms and depression. God heals, forgives, restores, rules and keeps us alive and blessed.
Let us then hope always, trust sincerely, walk faithfully with him and cling tightly in his bosom and we are secured.
Heavenly Father, we acknowledge your supremacy over all the storms, difficult moments and depressing situations in our lives. Keep calming these storms, restoring peace, relieving us from all hardships, threatening and depressing situations. Restore peace, harmony, love and happiness in our lives and grant that no storm in our lives may ever break, harm or make us deviate from you. Journey with us, Lord and bless our lives through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
