Ghost on the Water

Mary Lou Rosien ponders our call to be present to others, even as we face storms in our own lives.

This year has been a mix of extreme blessings and serious challenges. I have found myself exhausted, often, and struggling to keep walking through the storms of life. As I reflected on this, I was brought back to a passage in Sacred Scripture about what happened after Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes. He sent the apostles ahead of him in the boat, with the expectation that they would return for him. He watched and waited, but a storm had overcome them and they had not returned.

About the fourth watch of the night, [Jesus] came toward them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. (Mark 6:48)

I considered my own ministry and this stage of life when the storm constantly seems to swirl around us. How I would love to “pass by.” I just want to make it through the storm and reach the other shore. (Some Scriptural scholars do point out that when God “passes by” in the Old Testament it implies a particular blessing and we should also view Christ’s plan to pass by in this way. He was not necessarily ignoring the disciples, rather bestowing a blessing on them.)

The passage goes on:

But when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. (Mark 6:49-50)

Jesus then responds as He always does: He goes to the boat and calms down the disciples and the storm.

storm over the water with island in the background

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I must ignore my own plan to push through and pass by to be an imitator of Christ. #catholicmom

People are afraid in these current days. Things don’t seem to make sense: Covid, plus concerns about war, gas, and food prices. It is my calling also to go towards the boat. I must ignore my own plan to push through and pass by to be an imitator of Christ. This is a difficult calling for me right now; I must help those affected by my ministry to be calm (even when perhaps I am not feeling calm myself).

As we enter Lent, I will reflect and embrace this challenge! I will unite myself with Christ’s mission and not pass by those in need of comfort in times of fear. God bless.