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?”
REFLECTION
"Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion."
I recently heard a homily by our auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell'Oro, where he asked the laity if we ever think what will happen in about 20,000 years. Asked us to raise our hands if we ever did. And of course no one did.
Then he went to ask if we think or worry about what will happen in about 100 years from now. We all went: "mmhhh, maybe, not quite."
Bishop Dell'Oro was trying to make us put things into perspective. We keep worrying and losing sleep and concentration about things that are within our grasp: need to pick up some groceries, the kids need new shoes, are we still going to be employed next month? Is the next big war at our doorstep?
Many Catholic vloggers and influencers have been heavily talking about "The 3 days of darkness", and how we need to fill our house with candles that must be blessed during Candlemas (Feast of the Presentation), and take many more measures to be ready for this terrible chastisement.
I don't know if this is for real, I just know that we must be ready for our death by trying to be in state of grace, get frequent confession, not neglect our prayer life, and continue to do God's will. And stop worrying about this supposed imminent chastisement.
I don't deny that we still have to pray. Our Lady asked in Fatima to pray everyday in family for peace in the world. Other than that, is there really a point to worry for those things we don't have control over? I mean, we could think of the state of society and of the world. We can think of our family problems, and ask God to help us solve them if possible.
There is a saying that roughly translates from Spanish: "God lives in the present, the devil, in the past and the future."
What this means is that we can only work on the task, problem, or person right in front of us at a time. Worrying about the past or future is only that, worry. The past is regrets and the future is only worries. We have to trust God. And Jesus gives us His example by resting during the storm.
Saint Padre Pio used to say: "Pray, Hope, and don't worry. God is merciful and will hear your prayer."
Do we trust God even when the skies are dark and the storm is within reach? What is the prayer you say when in distress?
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