God is Bigger Than Any Storm
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
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?”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
There is a familiar command that runs throughout the entire Scriptures, and is specifically spoken of a number of times by Christ Himself, the command to “be not afraid”. When we read about the storm in the Gospel, it seems pretty understandable to us why the Apostles are filled with fear. How many hours, and days, and weeks, and years, had some of these Apostles who had been fishermen been out in their boats facing rain, wind, and waves… but they realize that this storm is something quite different. And yet Jesus is fast asleep!
When the Apostles wake Jesus, He rebukes them for their fear. The problem with their fear is not that it comes from the presence of something – trouble, but that it comes from the lack of something – faith. The reason the Apostles feared, and the reason that we typically fear, is that we don’t have enough faith. It would do us a lot of good to picture in our minds Jesus fast asleep in the midst of danger. He has no question that He has the divine power to overcome the storm. The danger of the storm is big, but it is tiny compared to God. Jesus guarantees us that we will have sufferings and trouble in this world, but He also guarantees us that we will have His help in this world (John 16:33). Where we have an abundance of fear, we must also have a lack of faith or a lack of love. Look at God, He’s bigger than the storm!
Together as a family pray a portion of the Rosary (i.e. – very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture above. (Optional – allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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