REFLECTIONS TODAY
One of the most terrifying occurrences we have just gone through is the Covid-19 pandemic, when panic and fear struck the core of our being, making us cry out just like the disciples to Jesus, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” (v 38). But this recent disaster is not unique; many “storms”—plagues, destruction, and tragedies—have stalked our planet before us: Black Death that wiped out 20 million over five years (AD 1347-1351), the Spanish Flu that killed 50 million in AD 1918, the devastations of two World Wars, Hitler’s extermination camps, the nuclear devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
From these tragedies, and many more, there arises a heart-wrenching question, “God, don’t you care?” And so, to the minds of so many people, God may appear powerless or indifferent, if he exists at all. The disciples are in the same predicament. Jesus, who just cured a man with a withered hand (Mk 3:1-5), is fast asleep in the stern, unbothered by the wind and the waves, seemingly detached and impassive to their plight.
Awakened by his terrified disciples, Jesus rebukes the sea, and a great calm follows. The disciples then wonder at the person in their midst: Who is this who has power over the wind? Storms test our faith in God. Fear and faith are always vying for control of our lives. It is easy to see Jesus as ruler over the whole universe; it is quite different when the earth is moving under us. Do we keep our trust in God who helps us weather the storm?
First Reading • Heb 11:1-2, 8-19
Brothers and sisters: Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Because of it the ancients were well attested. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God.
By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age—and Sarah herself was sterile—for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore. All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth, for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one.
Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son, of whom it was said, Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name. He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
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: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.