Gospel Mark 4: 35-41
Jesus calms the storm at sea and calms His disciples in the process
As 4-year-old Tommy watched his mother prepare their evening meal, she asked him to get a can of tomato soup from the pantry. Tommy was afraid and didn’t want to go in the pantry. “It’s dark in there and I’m afraid.” But she asked again, and he responded the same way. Finally she said, “It will be alright—Jesus will be in there with you.” Johnny walked hesitantly to the door and slowly opened it, saw the darkness and with fear he started to leave when he got an idea, and he said: “Jesus, if you’re in there, would you hand me that can of tomato soup?”
We all fear something: Flying, bugs, roller coasters, heights, you name it. We probably would not be human if we didn’t fear something. Today’s Gospel tells us about the disciples—fisherman, for heaven’s sake—petrified with fear when a storm raged at sea. Jesus, asleep on a cushion, is awakened and commands the winds and the sea to be quiet.
How many storms have we faced in our lives? How often have we felt our boat would be capsized? We, too, may have been petrified with fear until we realized that putting our faith in Jesus is the only thing that would calm the storm—not make it go away, not prevent another one from happening, but calm the storm—giving us exactly what we needed at the time. Faith in God always conquers fear.
Let’s discuss this as a family:
What is your biggest fear?
Why do you fear that? (Everyone answer this)
What can we do as a family to help conquer that fear?
What role does your faith play in conquering that fear?
Today is also Father's Day - so a prayer for all dad's:
God Our Father,
We thank you for giving us Dad
and for the many ways he shows us your fatherly care.
On this special day we ask you to bless him
with your peace and joy.
Give him the strength and the understanding
that he needs to care for us as a family.
Help us to appreciate more all he does for us
and to show him how much we love him.
Amen