Mark 4:35-41

Job 38:1, 8-11

Psalm 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31

2 Corinthians 5:14-17

Mark 4:35-41

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?”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, calm the raging sea and waves that threaten me. Still the rough winds that make it difficult to reach safe harbor. Do not let me be overcome by the trials of this life. May I find rest in you, my Father, be strengthened by your Son, and be comforted by your Spirit.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Who Is This Whom Wind and Sea Obey? The Gospel of Mark often engages its hearers by asking them questions like those we find in today’s Gospel passage. We are asked three questions: Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith? Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey? The story of Jesus’ calming of the sea invites us to faith in Jesus’ divine nature. For the People of Israel, only the Lord God can command and control the sea (Psalm 89:10; Job 38:8; Psalm 65:8). For the pagans, the weather and the sea were the domains of the gods. Zeus (Jupiter) was the storm god and Poseidon (Neptune) was the sea god. “From a pagan perspective, Jesus is also demonstrating here his mastery over the chief gods of the ancient pantheon” (John Bergsma, The Word of the Lord: Year B, 288). If we answer the last question truthfully, we will recognize that Jesus is doing what only God can do. Identifying Jesus as the Son of God is an act of faith. If we truly believe that Jesus is God, then we have no reason to be afraid.

2. Who Shut Within Doors the Sea? The calming of the storm and sea by Jesus refers back to the end of the story of Job. Job was tested by Satan and lost all he had, his family, and his health. His friends tried to convince him that he was being punished for something evil he did. Throughout, Job declared that he was innocent and asked God to judge and vindicate him. Eventually, the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. God didn’t tell Job that he was suffering because he did something wrong. Rather, God invited Job to be humble. God showed Job how little he knew and how Job was unable to control the universe or restrain the forces of evil. In a way, God does answer Job’s question about divine justice. Only God the Creator and not Job, a mere human being, can comprehend everything that must be taken into account to providentially guide history. “While not addressing Job’s particular case, God is implying that there are factors beyond Job’s comprehension that provide the rationale for innocent suffering” (Bergsma, The Word of the Lord: Year B, 285). We are invited to be humble and trust God before this awesome mystery, knowing that the one who can tame the seas is capable of much, much more. 

3. A New Creation in Christ: In his Second Letter to the Corinthians, Paul is speaking about his role in the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:11-6:10). He has already spoken about his ministry in the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 2:14-4:6) and how he has suffered during his ministry (2 Corinthians 4:7-5:10). He now explains that the new covenant ministry entails the ministry of reconciliation. He discusses the compelling love of Christ Jesus and the implications of Jesus’ death and resurrection. One of these implications is the divine gift of reconciliation (Stegman, Second Corinthians, 131). By dying for us, Christ enables us to become, in him, a new creation. This is a truth that God did not reveal to Job but has revealed to us. “The old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” Jesus transforms the old creation – he calms the sea and quiets the winds – and brings about something new. He transforms our innocent suffering into a pleasing sacrifice. He showed us the way of sacrificial love that leads to divine glory.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I recognize that you are in the stern of my boat. You are there and I have nothing to fear. One day, the winds and waves of this life will cease and I will find myself before you. I long for the loving embrace that will welcome me into eternal life.

Living the Word of God: When I feel overwhelmed in life, do I wake up Jesus in prayer? Do I turn to him in fear or with eyes of faith? Do I understand how God has directed the course of my life with his providential hand?