Day 21 Homily on the Lake

(This is an excerpt of a short homily I gave on the Sea of Galilee)

Mark 4:35-41

There are three questions in this passage.

The first was the question that the disciples ask the the Lord.

“Teacher, do you not care if we drown?” Notice that the question was not in whether Jesus has the power to do anything. They have seen Jesus’ power at this point, they saw him heal the sick, the demon possessed, the leper and crippled. The crowds have been following all around the country because of

they have seen the power. In Matthew’s description, the disciples actually cry out, “Lord, save us, We

are going to drown!” They have no doubt that Jesus could save, the question is if Jesus cared to save.

Do we trust that God cares enough to take action? Or is it true that God help those who help

themselves?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish

but have eternal life." John 3:16

By the way, the English translation of this verse is a little misleading. In the original language of Greek, “For

God so loved the world,” doesn’t read, “For God loved the world so much,” although that it true, but

rather it reads, “For this is how God loved the world; in this way God loved the world: that he gave his

only son!”

God’s love manifested in the ultimate action of becoming one of us, so that we may relate to him in his

life, suffering, death, and resurrection! If we do not believe that God will act, we act on behalf of God, ahead of God, or in lieu of God. Yes, faith produces actions, but our faith is in God's actions, not ours.

The second question is asked by the Lord to the disciples: "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

Insecurity and fear is the mother of all sorts of emotions, including anger. In their fear, the disciples got angry at sleeping Jesus. Why were they so afraid? Do they not know that Jesus is in the vessel with them, and thus will have to share in whatever befalls them? Are they afraid that Jesus will save himself but not them? Perhaps they are afraid that God will abandoned them? Perhaps they fear that God doesn’t care for them enough?

Maybe like the disciples, we become afraid of what we cannot control and become angry at God.

My grandma died of COVID and I was angry at the government. Something shifted out of my control and my mind says I will find stability again if I can make sense of it: blame someone.

Peter knew better the second time. While the other become afraid thinking they saw a ghost, Peter yelled, "Lord if it is you, tell me to come out to you!" Now that is faith. The disciples had enough faith to follow Jesus into a boat. Do we, like Peter, have enough faith to get out of the boat for him?

But soon he doubts and he sinks. When Jesus saved him from drowning, Peter said, “Truly you are the Son of God…” (cf. Matt 14:33)

And herein lies the answer to the last question, “Who is this, that even the storm obeys him?”

Later Jesus asked the disciples in Caesarea, “Who do you say I am?” This time, Peter confidently answers, “You are the Messiah, son of the living God.” (cf. Matt 16:15-16)

Who is God to me? Even the wind and the waves obey him. Will I?