Storms - 12 Sunday, Year B (Mark 4: 35 - 41)

 12 Sunday, Year B

 

We all know well that life has it fair share of storminess and that the storms of life come in all forms. Sometimes we can see them way off on the horizon as they slowly approach us, at other times, like in today’s Gospel, the storm appears out of nowhere and we find ourselves lost in the midst of it. What today’s Gospel reminds us is that when these storms inevitably land – we won’t find Christ sleeping. We won’t be abandoned by God; He will be there – awake – watching and guiding us through it. 

 

I was watching a TV drama the other evening and there was a very interesting dynamic between a father and his ten-year-old daughter. The father doesn’t believe in God – he says he did once, but he doesn’t now – he finds his daughter praying and this troubles him. He says, ‘she’s an intelligent girl – why would she do something like that’ He wants her to be just like him – a non-believer. He eventually asks her about it ‘Do you believe in all that God stuff?’ She goes quiet and looks away ‘Yes, I think so’ ‘Why?’ he asked her. ‘When Luke was sick she said – Luke is her brother who was very ill in hospital – I remember seeing Grandad praying so hard at the kitchen table – he was pleading with God to help Luke get better – and he did get better’. He Dad says ‘but Luke got the best medical treatment – that’s why he got better – not because God was there’. Then she said – and this is the key – but what if by Grandad praying he felt able to talk to you about Luke’s treatment and then you felt confident in asking for the treatment from the doctors and the doctors were able to pick the right treatment – what if that’s where God was’. When we are trapped within one of life’s storms we can feel disorientated and lose sight of what is happening – that’s natural and inevitable. Faith is our compass in these times. Faith calls on us to remember that in the storms of life – in our storms – God is there – present and participating in ways we will never know. Oftentimes, God is in the space between things – the space between the storm and us, that’s where we can find him. 

 

We need faith and courage. Fear can, and often does, take hold - ‘Why are you terrified? Do you not have faith?’ Jesus asks the disciples. These questions to the poor terrified disciples might seem a bit harsh – they are frightened for their lives – they think their boat will sink. And yet, it is at these times – the times when we feel that all is lost – that Jesus asks us to have faith – to believe – to trust in Him. Because only He can say the word to calm the storm. 

 

I find that one of the great prayers to say when we feel pushed around by the storms of life is the Memorare – This ancient and powerful prayer invites us to put our trust in God through the intercession of Mary our Mother. Maybe we can finish by praying it together: 

 

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known 
that anyone who fled to thy protection, 
implored thy help, 
or sought thy intercession, 
was left unaided. 
Inspired by this confidence 
I fly unto thee, 
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. 
To thee do I come, 
before thee I stand, 
sinful and sorrowful. 
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions, 
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. 
Amen.