Faith During the Storm

It took many years for me to understand the deeper meaning of Mark 4:35-41, Jesus calming the storm.  I understood that the passage correlated with faith so I interpreted it dealing with life's calamities.  It wasn't until this morning reading this that I figured it this message was for me. In midst of my daily struggles I become the disciples. I overreact to what appears to be a storm and that I might perish or give up control to something or someone. "Teacher, do you not care." although not my words as I may be too self-absorbed to contemplate such a saying.  However, Jesus reply to the sea which symbolically is my own desire to control situations is "Quite! Be still!" It is this very reply that I need to hear or better yet be open to when the waves become violent, throwing me asunder, tossing me off the boat of life. Having recognition of this I will better understand that it is He, not I that control my destiny. Having the faith of Abraham to the point of not knowing where I am going shall guide me to the final destination as Paul alludes to in Hebrews 1:2-9. Being obedient to the message is my struggle.

The Call

As we reflect on today's readings it is clear that the message resonates with a call. That call seems to be an imperative and requires action.  Whether it is Jonah wandering through Nineveh, Paul's proclamation to the Corinthians or Jesus proclaiming the Gospel in Galilee there is a call. Repentance is the answer.  The people of Nineveh heeded the call to conversion of heart when their immediate future was at stake. Paul uses similar words in saying that "the world in its present form is passing away. Simon and  Andrew leave their life-long work as fisherman as do James and John.  Their immediate actions of leaving both their work and families behind may seem a bit extreme, but the message is there, "Come after me." Looking at this in today's world is difficult. Take for example Andrew and Simon. They may have been hard workers and in today's terms married to their work, but they chose a new calling. Are you married to your work? Is it your life, your identity, your pride? Having struggled with this myself, I increasingly try to allow Jesus guide me in this area, consecrating each day to him, attempting to follow his call. The call to repent follows me as well. There are plenty of areas in my life which require reflection and the willingness to change. This only comes with God's infinite grace.  Yes time is of the essence and I must take Jonah's and Paul's words seriously if I am to answer that call. May the Grace of of our Savior provide you with that call.

Update

I apologize for the lack of posts as my  job as a teacher requires a significant amount of time and energy dedicated the task of grading as well as preparation. I hope with renewed spirit and the grace provided by God to be more frequent in my posts.

Yours in Christ

Chris

Baptism

What can be more frightening than being submersed under water and the feeling of drowning? Having had an experience of being momentarily helpless in a pool after an awkward dive I can recall of being weighted down. Jesus when baptized by John the Baptist descended into the waters although completely sinless must have had that momentarily feeling as well. What can we take from this event? Being helpless underwater can symbolize our life when it is devoted to the material world. We are constantly battling for air and at times can be weighed down by our propensity to sin and the underlying guilt of those actions that wraps itself around us and keeps us submerged. On the other hand visualize Christ coming up from the waters, getting the breath of fresh air, of life, of renewal. That is what we can experience when we allow ourselves to be guided by our Savior.  We are no longer weighted down by the turbulence of the current under water, but conversely we can grab onto the One that will guide us down the river of life as we submit to His will. In the words of the Baptist " He must increase; I must decrease."

What is the Cross to Me?

Upon reflection on this day of the Exaltation of Cross many thoughts crossed my mind. From my daily reflections I read a poem by Brother Jacapone da Todi who was Franciscan writer in Italy.  His poem "How We Exalt the Cross" detailed a person contemplating a climb on a  great tree whose branches ascended beyond sight. Ready to climb the person sees no place to get a hold except a defective looking branch. Eager to begin he is stopped in his tracks when a voice says "Do not touch me unless you have first confessed." As the piece goes on the climber now cleansed ascends only with his profound recognition that without God the ascent will not take place.  Struck by the deep symbolism of the poem I meditated on the meaning of the cross.  As with a tree the cross is attached to the ground. Jesus crucified with outstretched arms is the many branches of tree providing shade for those who come close, his arms representing the world in which he takes in.  The cross in itself is symbolic of suffering of Jesus and those that follow him.  Putting it in the context of climbing a tall tree, the dangers each step up signifies and the possibility of fall, the weak branches that one might inadvertently grab on our journey, Jesus is our foothold on the ascent. Although suffering is seen in adverse light in our world today, we shall climb embracing the precarious journey,  to the  top of  the tree to our eternal reward willing to take risks and knowing that with each fall, each moment of suffering, the extension of the arms of Christ will grab us and lift us up to a stronger branch along the way.

Personal Gain

Jesus message in today's Gospel is quite clear, "sell what you have and follow me." In our world today this is quite challenging especially for those of us who reside in developed countries. But as James states in verse 1:22 "be doers of the Word and hearers only." Do we forget who we are? Do we forget that we are not on this earth for ourselves? With the many creature comforts it is easy to do so.  Yet we don't have to sell our soul to our possessions and obsessions to obtain true life.  I often can be paralyzed by the frenetic pace of life around me and the desire to gain more and more.  However, through God's grace I realize that this only brings emptiness and is short-term. The idea that we know it all and there is no longer a need for God only brings us closer to personal destruction and on a larger scale societal chaos. We don't have to look far for this during the past month. I can ask as the young man in Matthew asked "Jesus, what do I lack?" The answers will come in prayer and reflection.  For myself, it is clear what I lack. My sale is to my Lord, my Redeemer, my strength.  It is only through this surrender will I find treasure.

Lord I am Not Worthy ...

As I reflect on today's reading, the one that struck me the most was from Deuteronomy.  Many people have suffered afflictions or endured hardship and as such have overcome these trials by surrendering to the will of God.  Thus we are fed with manna, the grace, the word, the love of God. No longer relying on self-will or human strength these people seek a power unknown to many humans. The paradox of human life can be evidenced by those who may have been lost in the desert of this world, the parched materialistic world we live in, and those who have manna.  Forgetting that God is the source of our life is much like the Jews who soon forgot the water and food that was providing to them.  Thus we become slaves.

The source of our life is our Lord. In frequently receiving communion we become one with Lord.Participating in communion as Paul states in Corinthians 10, we become one with Christ.   As I reflect on receiving communion and the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, I find myself in awe of the One who gave himself for my sins.  I am not worthy to receive You but only say the word and I shall be healed.  Approaching the altar I must humble myself to receive Him.  I believe You are the true bread of life, help me in my unbelief.