Mark 4: 35-41
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062021.cfm
There is a very well-known insight made by the Christian
author C.S. Lewis about the truth of Jesus’ identity. It is taken from his book: Mere Christianity. Lewis writes:
“A
man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a
great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic–on a level with the man who
says he is a poached egg–or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make
your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or
something worse…. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill
Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.”
What Lewis implies is that we can never simply see our Lord
as nothing more than a wise teacher of ancient times like past philosophers. We
must decide to search for the truth of his identity and then conclude that if
indeed we accept him as the Son of God; we cannot then be passive or dismissive
in the sight of that – we must fall at his feet and call him “Lord and God.”
Mark’s context for our impressive Gospel this Sunday takes
place after a long day of teaching by Jesus.
Last Sunday’s Gospel about the mustard seed and growth and our coming to
understand the mystery of God’s grace in our lives along with his many
illustrative parables would certainly cast Jesus in the wise teacher mode. One line in the Gospel, “. . . they took him (Jesus) with them in the boat, just as he was”
may well reveal that the disciples simply accepted the role of Jesus as just a
wise teacher and never essentially considered a further option. He was greatly respected for his wisdom and
influence on the crowds but what happened next in the instant calming of the
violent storm shook them deeply.
The wind didn’t’ gradually subside as it does when a
storm passes on. Mark tells us that the
wind immediately “ceased” and there was a “dead calm.” In fact the word Jesus
uses to address the mighty power of nature is the same forceful address he uses
when speaking to demons. At his strong rebuke the spirit obeys! So, to wonder in what must have been a near speechless
moment, “who is this?” is obvious. And yet, for us that is the ultimate
question as we encounter Jesus both in word in sacrament in the Church and in
our personal and communal lives. We seek
to uncover the truth of Jesus and to design our lives accordingly. The disciples are challenge to see this charismatic teacher among them as more than a man but as God himself operative in his creation.
Our first reading from the Book of Job shows a similar
insight this Sunday. Job, severely afflicted
with misfortune, cries out to God to help him understand why? He hasn’t done anything to deserve the
disaster come upon him. As the Book of Job begins, however, we see this a tale
of testing. Satan and God make an
arrangement and God allows Job to be tested as all is taken from him while Satan
is convinced that if things are bad enough, Job will turn away from God and
reject him. So, the game was on. In our reading, Job essentially puts God on
trial after a long period of reflection and confronts him with the eternal
question: “Why is this happening to me? I’ve done nothing to deserve this
treatment!” God’s response is telling.
In this part of a long passage, God essentially asks Job:
“Who shut within doors the sea . . . when
I made the clouds . . . and darkness . . . and here shall your proud waves be
stilled!” God reminds Job that he is
the creator and Job needs to resist the temptation to be so myopic in his view. Where was Job when God did all these things? God
stands in the midst of his creation, of which Job is also the result of God’s
creative providence, so who is Job to question God’s intent? While God never
gives Job a direct answer to his suffering as to why but invites Job to a deeper trust in God’s view and to know
that God will not abandon Job in this misfortune.
Like the question of Lewis on the identity of Jesus, Job
must make a choice to embrace this element of mystery and to put aside his
doubts and fears. Our disciples in the boat, and we ourselves are invited to
the same. “Who is this man” and what does this mean for my life and the life of
all who follow?
Yet, we all know that at times God does indeed seem to be
asleep. We cry out to him in prayer and
it seems nothing happens to change for the better. The storm continues to rage and damage seems
to be done. We conclude that God is
cruel, indifferent, asleep, deaf, or maybe does not exist at all. Our modern sense of self achievement and
independence leave many to conclude that God and organized religion make no
difference one way or another and if he does exist, who really cares? Sad but all too true for many live as if
there is no God.
Yet, if we allow the Scriptures to speak deeply to us, we
find today that they are challenging our faith, which is translated as ultimate
loyalty to the person of Jesus, who is the Word of God in our midst. Loyalty to Christ is a rock solid faith in
God in whom we place our trust both in days of calm and in times of stormy
weather.
Faith does not demand immediate gratification. Faith is rooted in loyalty that hangs on and
remains such even when the boat is shifting side to side. He is there with us. To let go of our limited
fear and to adopt more deeply through prayer and trust a change of heart to
have greater confidence in God’s overall care in the midst of our storms is the
call of our Mass this Sunday.
This Holy Eucharist came to us in the midst of Jesus
absolute loyalty to his Father’s will, although filled with human fear. Surrounded
by the disciples’ voiced but weak loyalty to him in the midst of personal
threat. One betrayed him, Judas, and the other denied three times that he even
knew him. Jesus’ example, even to death on a cross, is the model for us
all. His Body and Blood are strength for
us. Once we allow ourselves to let go of fear and to abandon ourselves to God’s
will, as Paul writes today to the Corinthians: “. . . whoever is in Christ is a
new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.”
This is a lifetime spiritual process but we cannot stand indifferent
before Christ as we proclaim him our Lord and God. May we keep our eyes fixed
on him who has saved us and allow his grace to transform our fear into
trust.
Grant, O Lord,
that we may always revere
and love your holy name,
for you never deprive of your guidance
those your set firm on the
foundation of your love.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
(Collect for Mass)
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