Saint Aidan, Bishop
January 30th, 2010
Mark 4 : 35 - 41
Today’’s Gospel is the reassuring story of how Jesus calmed the storm on the lake, and showed that He is with His Disciples in the midst of all life’’s storms. In the text we see the power of Jesus over evil. While the Disciples were struggling, Jesus had gone up the hills to pray. He is not with the Disciples physically, but he is caring for them. The boat of the Disciples is like the Churcha caught up in violent storms. Jesus is at prayer on the mountain, but He is aware of the Disciples” needs, so He comes to them.
Storms in my own life can be good to strengthen and deepen my faith. God is watching us and caring for us all the time. When the storm subsided, the Disciples bowed down and said “Truly you are the Son of God.” I know from experience that by myself I cannot withstand the storms, but I can reach out to God in prayer. Fear is one of the great blocks in life and it can block out God”””’’s love. “Do not be afraid” is mentioned 360 times in the Bible.
Prayer
Prayer : Lord you spoke to the wind and the sea, and there came a great calm. Calm the storms of anger and jealousy which upset our lives, and help us to be aware always of your presence.
The prayer for each day has been prepared by various members of the Holy Family Association. All who visit our website are remembered in prayer. If you would like us to pray for a particular need, simply complete and submit the form on the right hand side of this page. You may wish to leave a comment in the space below.
Just a Thought
Hope
John XXIII, referred to as the ‘caretaker Pope’, realising the widening gap between the Church and the world of his day, wrote: “An old world is disappearing. Another one is being formed, and with this I am trying to conceal some good seed or other that will have its springtime, even if it is somewhat delayed, and comes after I’m dead.”
Thomas Merton writes: “One must not give in to defeatism and despair: just as one must hope for life in a mortal illness which has been declared incurable.”
Even when dark clouds surround us, even when everything appears to be falling apart, we must continue to believe for a better future. Whatever the problem, there is a way forward.
So, my hope is in God alone because I believe in him; this is my faith. It is in him I put my faith and that faith, my belief in God’s love for me and all his creation, is the bedrock in which like an anchor, I put my hope. Together with that hope and faith is my love and fidelity in responding to that God in whom I live and move and have my being. In him I place my hope.
“Hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul” (Heb 6:15-19).
