Gospel for June 23 2024 – Mark 4: 35-41
Gospel Reflections for June 23 2024
There will always be a storm…
Our great attendance at Church and at SpringFest are welcome news for our future. The fishermen in today’s Gospel discover even greater news.
They had built their boats skillfully with their own hands and had great confidence in them. Their future looked great. Yet while fishing in the sea an unexpected storm arrives.
We know a lot more about these ancient boats today. Archaeologists recently discovered a fishing boat from the time of Jesus. Analysis reveals it was carefully built with skillful construction …and continuously repaired afterwards. That affirms it was a strong, sturdy, and valuable business asset for the owners.
The disciples confidently took Jesus into their well-built boat to cross the sea to the other side. But their confidence vanished as that sudden storm arrives, which could easily swamp their boat, which now seemed rather small! They are frightened and cower before the wind and waves. They soon call Jesus who is sleeping in the back. He calmly stands up, boldly faces the wind and sea, and quiets the storm. They are amazed!
Jesus knew what He was doing when He chose fishermen as disciples. While they are rightfully proud of the boats they competently built with their own hands, they also respect the greater power of nature as well. They had things in the right perspective.
Jesus never leaves you alone in a storm. Jesus rides the same waves in the boat with you, but only He can bring you peace of mind no matter what is happening in your world.
What makes you confident facing any storm …is not the boat you might make …but having Jesus in it with you!
Like the fisherman in the Gospel, do not leave Our Lord in the back, but actively call Him forward and seek His help, wisdom, and courage. A storm never means Jesus is missing. It is precisely those challenging times that Jesus affirms He will stand with you, and closer than ever.
We know there will be more storms coming, whether work problems, angry relatives, family arguments, future pandemics, brush fires, or economic and political debates.
All will be well in your own world if you always take Our Lord with you …and as the captain of your boat.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Excellent insights as always. Best, Argyle
Thank you!
This Gospel reminds me of my years on a Coast Guard Cutter in Alaska coping with waves of Water amazing in strength and size and wondering if we would survive. Our Faith was tested in Sincere Requests for Safe Passage. Chugging up the front and surfing down the backs burying the bow at the base of the next Mountain of water.
Faith brings calm and the assurance that you will overcome the problem you and your crew are facing. This Gospel builds Courage to face these and other problems we face.
I have heard that those are the roughest waves anywhere. Glad you always made it safely back to port!
Thank you Father Dave. As always I look forward to your insights. Might I also add that while He is with us in the storm, He is also willing to wait for us to ask for relief from the storm. He will allow us to endure through the storm to the point where we can no longer endure and then seek Him for His peace and calming. I’ve been noticing in my study lately that Jesus rarely, if ever, performs any miracles without first asking, “What is it that you want me to do?” We need to come to Him with our requests. Amen.
Ys, that is a great insight. Jesus only goes where He is welcome. He wants to hear us ask Him to be in our life.
Love our precious Jesus being Captain of our boat!!! We are soooooooooooooooo Blesed with our loving Jesus and our faith!!! Loveeeeeeee it and want to share its love and beauty with everyone!!! Live our Jesus’ Love!!! loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee it!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, franca and Dick
Thank you!