OT XII [B]: Job 38:1, 8-11; II Cor 5:14-17; Mk 4:35-41

Our Old Testament reading and our Gospel today each pose, in their own way, the same question: who is in control? In the midst of his sufferings, Job curses the day of his birth, having found no meaning to his sufferings, and no cause for them in any unrighteousness on his part. But in Chapter 38 he is put in his place by the Lord who finally gives answer from the heart of the whirlwind. The Lord’s answer to Job comes in no uncertain terms: He, the Lord, is in control. Job must understand his own place within the created order, for he is a creature, not God. He was not present when the Lord created the world, he did not see the sea constrained in its place, or the dry land made. It is the Lord who controls all of these things, and not us.

It is in this context that we can understand the Lord’s actions in the boat as a proof of his divinity, for only the Lord could constrain the natural powers by a mere rebuke. From this powerful action comes their wondered confession: Who can this be? Even the wind and sea obey him. 

But we notice that their confession is not yet perfect for even as rebuking the wind and the waves, the Lord offers something of a rebuke to his disciples: Why are you frightened? How is it that you have no faith? The disciples must still, by slow steps, come to know not only that it is the Lord who is in control, but that the Lord stands before them. Witnessing the Lord calming the storm made the disciples' faith grow, though not strong enough.

 

If we are looking for a reason for Job’s suffering or ours, we may not find it. But this we do know: Job’s ordeal has given him an even greater appreciation for God’s goodness. Job’s relationship with God has deepened, his faith has grown stronger and he has become wiser as a result. The same could be said of us whenever we experience hardship or face adversity. It’s not always easy to trust in the Lord’s providence and wisdom. But we are assured by St Paul, “we know that in everything God works for good for those who love him, who are called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). We may not see it clearly now, but it makes the hard times a little easier to bear, knowing that there is something to learn and that God will answer us “from the heart of the storm.

 

We need to remember that Jesus is always with us in the boat of our life. All of us are making a journey across the sea of time to the shore of eternity.  Hence, it is natural that, occasionally, we all experience different types of violent storms in our lives: physical storms, emotional storms, and spiritual storms.  We face storms of sorrow, doubt, anxiety, worry, temptation, and passion.  The storms we encounter in life are often what make us or break us; either they bring us closer to God and one another or they alienate us from God and others.  And it is only Jesus who can still these storms for us.  Jesus can give us real peace in the storm of sorrow.  When we are totally depressed with sorrow, Jesus assures us of the glory of the life to come.  At the loss of our dear ones, Jesus consoles us with the assurance of eternal life for them in the Heavenly home of God the Father where we, too, will live one day.  When the storms of doubt seek to uproot the very foundations of our Faith, Jesus is there to still that storm, revealing to us his Divinity and the authority behind the words of the Holy Scripture. 

When helplessly watching the sufferings of a loved one, or in the face of personal tragedy, or in times of depression or natural disaster, we might think that the Lord is sleeping in the boat of our life and he doesn’t care much about us. That is not true.

As a young Indian boy approached manhood it is the custom of his tribe, that he had to undergo several tests to prove his bravery, before acceptance into the fighting braves of the tribe. He was brought out into the middle of a jungle and left there alone all night. He was terrified. Every leaf that fell, every branch that creaked, every movement in the underground caused his heart to pound. He never knew a night could be so long. On several occasions, he would have run away, but where does one run in a jungle in the middle of the night? After what seemed an eternity, the light of dawn began to filter through the trees. In a relatively short time, his eyes got used to the growing light, and soon he was able to see clearly. He moved from where he was and as he approached the nearest tree, he was amazed to find his father standing there with a gun. He had stood there on guard all night long. The young lad’s instant response was to think, “If I had known that my father was watching over me like that, I would have slept soundly all night.” When going through the difficulties we think we are alone and God is far away from us. Only true faith and trust in our loving God can help us see the God who is present to us in the midst of suffering and difficulties. Today, if you are going through difficult times or pains, remember Jesus is there to calm them, but we need to first wake him up in the boat of our lives with our faith and continue to trust in his promise: “In the world, you will have tribulations. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33).

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10).