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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Quiet! Be still!

Quiet! Be still!

Published Jan 26, 2024 04:31 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Gird your loins

Mark summarizes Jesus’ usual activity as going into the synagogues, preaching and driving out demons. 


He would remain outside in solitary places so people could come to him and be healed. No wonder, traveling with his disciples in the boat, Jesus, tired as he is, falls asleep in a cushion. He does not feel the squalls breaking over the boat until awakened by his frightened disciples. He rebukes the wind which ceases and a great calm follows. 


The calming of the sea shows Jesus’ authority not just over the unclean spirits, but also over the elements of nature—a display of his divine power. 
This episode highlights the dramatic contrast between Jesus’ calmness and the disciples’ panic and fear. The true identity of Jesus is still mysterious to them, and so they ask, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” (v 41). 


Jesus’ command, “Quiet! Be still!” (v 39) should recall the words of Psalm 46, “Be still and know that I am God!” (v 11). And before that: “God is our refuge and our strength… Thus, we do not fear, though earth be shaken and mountains quake to the depths of the sea, though its waters rage and foam” (vv 2-4).

Gospel • Mark 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?”

Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

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