A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mk 4:35-41
On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:“Let us cross to the other side.”Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.And other boats were with him.A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,so that it was already filling up.Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.They woke him and said to him,“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”He woke up,rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”The wind ceased and there was great calm.Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?Do you not yet have faith?”They were filled with great awe and said to one another,“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”
REFLECTION
God promised: “But I will never take back my love, my truth will never fail. I will never violate my covenant nor go back on the word I have spoken.“ (Psalm 88:31-38)
We read in Scripture that God loves us BUT will not spare the rod. And for us to get back in His good graces, we must return to Him in repentance. Ask Him to create a clean heart in us. Obey His voice with all our hearts, souls and minds. He takes pity on us and brings us back to Him.
For all the mistakes we made, for our insufferable behavior toward Him and others, we find ourselves in fear, impatient and anxious and we yell out, ”Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” His love is quietly at work and we must be “Quiet! Be still”.
God cared enough that He gave up His Son for mere humans so that we would not perish. And in the process we berated, humiliated Him, cursed Him and killed Him. Yet, we ask Him over and over to create a clean heart in us.
For those of us who have encountered God’s love and mercy, we are obliged to share His love with others in wherever and whatever places we find ourselves.
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