Gospel Reading for February 01, 2025 – Mark 4: 35-41
WE PANIC
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?”
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Jesus was sound asleep in the midst of a violent squall. He was probably very tired from a day of healing, preaching and going places. They thought that Jesus did not care that they were perishing. What is funny is that they were not yet perishing. The water was just filling up the boat and they could still do something about it. If indeed they were perishing, Jesus would be perishing too.
A lot of us are like the disciples when we are beset with problems in life, according to the expression “when it rains, it pours.” Instead of putting our faith in God who will surely come to our aid, and praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit, WE PANIC and think there’s no more hope. It is the end. Look at a lot of our youth who easily give up on life when they have a big problem, and not even beset with problems. When we do not “seek the Lord when in trouble,” our problem becomes bigger than ourselves. But, when we seek the Lord, since he is bigger than any problem there can ever be in this world, our problem becomes smaller.
It is uncharacteristic of Christians to stop HOPING because we have all we need to surpass challenges in life, especially the biggest challenge – the evil one. How important it is to stay away from the evil one when looking for a solution to our problems. The solution that the evil one will try to persuade us to take will surely be yet, another problem. This is when hope will fade because we can find hope only in God. For Christians, there is always a “light at the end of the tunnel!”
Let us reflect on this song written in the 60’s, SEEK THE LORD –
Seek the Lord when in trouble.
Seek the Lord `midst your cares.
Seek the Lord when you’re happy.
Seek him everywhere.
When you wake at break of day
just lift your heart and to him say:
“I don’t know what this day will bring,
but Lord, I offer you everything!”
When you’re happy and things are fine,
just sing to him this little rhyme:
“Thank you, Lord, you are so good,
O help me love you as I should.”
When you’re burdened down with care
just whisper him this little pray’r:
“I’m worried, Lord, what shall I do?
I think I trust all things to you!”
