Daily Gospel Reflection for June 21, 2015

Today's Gospel: Mark 4:35-41

On February 27, 2013, during his final general audience, Pope Benedict alluded to this very Scripture passage from Mark’s Gospel: “The Lord has given us many days of sunshine . . . in which the catch has been abundant; (then) there have been times when the seas were rough and the wind against us.”

Some news agencies reported Pope Benedict’s statement with glee, using it to splatter headlines with hints that the Pope was admitting defeat and doubt. But people who know Mark’s Gospel recognize Pope Benedict’s allusion and understand his meaning. People who have labored in difficult, almost impossible, circumstances feel his pain. Like the disciples being tossed in the boat, we know what it is like to be terrified of life’s storms.

Today’s Gospel shows just how slow the disciples are to grasp the authority and power of Jesus. Sadly, I know that I, too, sometimes grow terrified and say to Jesus, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” A lost job, an unexpected illness, a baby born with special needs, an inadequate school district, a car accident—there are so many storms that terrify us. The disciples grow upset that Jesus is lounging on a cushion amid their agony. But Jesus reminds them what is needed: faith. Today Jesus encourages us to persevere in faith.

Jesus is Lord. Alleluia!

Ponder:

Would any of my actions or decisions today be different if I believed with all my heart that Jesus is Lord of the universe?

Pray:

Teacher, help me find the great calm you offer to me today. Amen.

We thank our friends at The Word Among Us for providing our gospel reflection team with copies of Abide In My Word 2015: Mass Readings at Your Fingertips. To pray the daily gospels with this wonderful resource, visit The Word Among Us.

Copyright 2015 Grace Mazza Urbanski