GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 28TH JANUARY 2017
SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
(MEMORIAL OF SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS, PRIEST, DOCTOR)
FIRST READING: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
CANTICLE: Luke 1:69-75
GOSPEL: Mark 4:35-41
THEME: JESUS CALMS THE STORM
A violent storm at sea battered the vessel of John Newton, a slave trade dealer in 1748. As the wind and the sea threatened to snuff out his very life, he cried out to God for mercy. Later on in life, inspired by the saving act of the Lord, he wrote down the words of the ancient Christian hymn, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.”
In Jewish tradition, God alone has the power to calm the raging seas. Therefore, in calming a storm in our Gospel text, Jesus exercised divine authority and revealed his divinity to his disciples. This led them to remark in amazement, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”(Mk 4:41).
A storm is an unpleasant and frightful event which breaks in suddenly and threatens one’s very existence. Every Christian, no matter how prayerful one is, gets hit by a storm sometime and somewhere in life. Having Jesus in one’s “boat” does not spare one the storms of life. There are some who have been hit by storms in their marriages; others have felt the force of a storm in their priestly and religious vocations. There are some who are battling with a storm in the area of their health, job, education, relationships etc.
The two questions that Jesus asked his disciples when he had calmed the storm reveal the attitude and disposition the Lord expects us to have in the face of a storm. “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” In other words, when the trials of life come your way, the first thing you should keep in mind is that there is no need to be afraid. Fear does not solve problems, it only compounds matters.
Secondly, place your faith in Jesus who is right there in the boat with you. Yes, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). Faith overcomes every trial.
Are you faced with a stormy situation this very moment in your life? Peace! Be still! Do not be afraid. Trust in Jesus and see what he will do.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you are my hope when storms hit my boat. In you I place my trust and I shall never be disappointed. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).