Sleeping Jesus

Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?

It's been a year since this storm of a pandemic began, don’t you feel like the disciples in a sinking boat? Mark’s account (Mk 4:35-41) reads:

On that day, as evening drew on, he [Jesus] said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.”

Leaving the crowd, they took him 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?”

At one of our meals, our conversation turned to this gospel passage. One Jesuit said that what struck him was not the fact that Jesus had power over the storm, but the fact that Jesus questioned him whether His presence with him in the boat wasn’t enough. Hearing him say this made me think of Jesus asking me the same question. Grateful for the light it gave me, I prayed that the Lord would always teach me His calmness whether I'm in the midst of a storm or not.

Prayer suggestion: Imagine yourself alone in the boat with Jesus. It's evening and there's a violent squall. Water is filling up the boat. Then see Jesus sleeping. What do you do and say to Jesus? What does Jesus do and say to you? What fruit do you draw from your contemplation? Thank the Lord for any fruit received.