And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with waves; but Jesus himself was asleep." Mt. 8:24
Right now there are people in our nation who are devastated by the effects of a hurricane. As we feel for their losses and respond to their needs in any way that we can, I know that prayers for their safety and resilience is something we can also offer to them at this time.
Often when we are caught in the various storms of our lives, be it illness, or disappointment, or betrayal or the weather, we sometimes wonder where God is and why this "thing" happened? The mystery of the "mystery of suffering" continues to exist for all of us. I remember seeing a story on the news about a couple who had their home destroyed by a hurricane and packed up to rebuild in another state. One could only shake their head in disbelief to find out that after rebuilding, this new home was also destroyed by the floods of another hurricane that hit our country a few years later.
When I think of the quote above, I marvel at the fact that while a hurricane-like storm was rocking the boat he and his disciples were in, he remained sleeping until they woke him up. Is it a stretch to think that sometimes it seems as if Jesus is sleeping in our boat too? The boat of cancer recurrence, the boat of divorce, the boat of prejudice, the boat of injustice . . . ? Sometimes we need to shake the boat a bit and call out, "Lord, I am perishing! I need you!"
If this is where you are right now, calling out in desperation, from a hurricane or any other mystery of suffering, faith shows us that we have an evacuation route all set, if we can trust a bit longer. I know that I need to do this many times. I need to remind myself that when he rose from the dead, he destroyed the things that bring me suffering, and with him, I will somehow rise above them. This takes faith. Let us pray for an increase of faith today.
Often when we are caught in the various storms of our lives, be it illness, or disappointment, or betrayal or the weather, we sometimes wonder where God is and why this "thing" happened? The mystery of the "mystery of suffering" continues to exist for all of us. I remember seeing a story on the news about a couple who had their home destroyed by a hurricane and packed up to rebuild in another state. One could only shake their head in disbelief to find out that after rebuilding, this new home was also destroyed by the floods of another hurricane that hit our country a few years later.
When I think of the quote above, I marvel at the fact that while a hurricane-like storm was rocking the boat he and his disciples were in, he remained sleeping until they woke him up. Is it a stretch to think that sometimes it seems as if Jesus is sleeping in our boat too? The boat of cancer recurrence, the boat of divorce, the boat of prejudice, the boat of injustice . . . ? Sometimes we need to shake the boat a bit and call out, "Lord, I am perishing! I need you!"
If this is where you are right now, calling out in desperation, from a hurricane or any other mystery of suffering, faith shows us that we have an evacuation route all set, if we can trust a bit longer. I know that I need to do this many times. I need to remind myself that when he rose from the dead, he destroyed the things that bring me suffering, and with him, I will somehow rise above them. This takes faith. Let us pray for an increase of faith today.
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