2 July, Tuesday – Even the sea obeys God

 Tuesday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time

Amo 3:1-8;4:11-12
Mt 8:23-27

Without warning a storm broke over the lake…

Today’s gospel is a popular one, and probably seems recently familiar – it should be, as this same story is recorded in all four gospels and Mark’s telling was our gospel eight days ago on 22 June. Because of that, I read and listened to several homilies on this topic. So, I’ll share with you some things that really spoke to me:

1.  When we read about a boat or ship in scripture, the boat/ship represents the Church making its way through space and time. That certainly tells a story, doesn’t it? All the storms and high winds that have pummeled us personally, and specifically our Church over these 2,000+ years – and yet we’re still sailing. And think of those in charge, our leaders – some have weathered the rough seas and led us well, and some have not. The same can be said of you and I — we have withstood some of the arrows of the enemy as a Catholic Christian, and some we have not.
   
2. The sea obeys Christ. Of course it does – yet often we humans, even we practicing Catholic Christians don’t. So, it seems, that all of nature is more keyed in to who God is than we are……
   
3. The disciples are panicked while Jesus sleeps – peacefully sleeps. As soon as the disciples wake Jesus up – He calms the storm. Jesus is showing us that we need to seek Him out within ourself, to find this place of safety, peace and calm where we are connected to God. We find this place through prayer and meditation. The storms try to make us forget that our anchor is stronger than this storm. If we invoke the help of our anchor, we will be fine – if we look to ourselves and this world, we will continue to be in distress, perhaps even lost at sea.
   
4. When you hear and see the terrifying, threatening waves of life about to break on you and wipe you out, remember who is holding them back and using them as part of His mysterious and all wise, all-loving plan for your life. In life, we will all suffer through many storms – and there will be times when we think we are going to drown – darkness will seem to have the upper hand and we will feel, and maybe even believe, that giving up and drowning is a better choice; but that is when we must remember that it is God who has the power to hold the waves back by simply saying, ‘thus far shall you come, but no farther.” (Job1:11) Even the storms are in His will. He will NEVER drown us. So, if the Creator of EVERYTHING doesn’t want us to drown, we matter. Our life, imperfect as it is, matters. Giving up isn’t the answer – giving into God – surrendering to God, is.
   
5. Fr Mike Schmitz shares the difference between giving up and surrendering. Do we give up in the storm or surrender – and what is the difference? Giving up is quitting/doing nothing. Surrendering to Christ is acknowledging the situation, praying about it and then getting to work. Surrender is giving ACCESS – and it’s not a one-time thing, a ‘set it and forget it’ thing, like a crockpot Christianity. Surrender is daily, many times a day. Surrender is like balancing (not balance, but balancing – we never have balance – we are constantly balancing, making adjustments (most minor, some huge), because life keeps happening). Fr Mike goes on to say that the opposite of surrender is resentment (often quiet, sometimes doing His will but joylessly) or rebellion (usually loud and proud, but oftentimes it’s doing not quite what we know He has asked of us, or simply putting off, ignoring God’s direction). 
   
6. And finally, Dr. Peter Kreeft. There is no limit to God’s power, God’s wisdom and God’s love – but there is a limit to the waves. The storm will always be calmed. “This too shall pass.” Only God does not pass away. In the end, evil always passes away; good does not.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Gina Ulicny)

Prayer:  Father God, how we praise Your name and Your ways. The beautiful days and the stormy days that we often don’t understand and pray you will protect us from. Knowing that the waves are at Your command gives us a peace. Lord, help us to remember that it is our surrender, not our resentment and rebellion, that brings the peace and calm and the JOY that we desire.

Thanksgiving: Lord God, thank you for the faith in holding strong during the storms. Thank you for the storms that have moulded us into who You created us to be – for all the goodness and joy and love beyond comprehension that we discover once the storm has passed.