From Fear to Faith
We have resumed reading from the Gospel of Mark during this weekend celebrations of the Eucharist. According to Mark, the disciples consistently do not understand the things that Jesus is trying to convey to them. This is a literary device that is meant for us as hearers of the Gospel. Because the disciples do not initially understand the message that Jesus is conveying, he must explain it to them, often after admonishing them for not understanding. Last week’s Gospel passage ended with the statement that Jesus ONLY spoke to the people in parables, but he privately explained the parables to the disciples.
We heard that the Kingdom of God is like a person who scatters seed and has no idea how it becomes a fruitful plant; and the same person then harvests the plant with hard work to make the fruit available; and then that the Kingdom is like the smallest seed that becomes a big bush where birds receive shade.
Undoubtedly Jesus explained these analogies to the disciples in private, but perhaps they needed additional experiences to embrace the unique and world changing identity of Jesus. So, this week we hear a very dramatic story beginning with Jesus’ suggestion to ‘cross over’ to the other side of the lake. This is symbolic of his invitation to them to cross over into a deeper understanding of him, and notice that other boats joined them. As they are crossing, a violent storm comes up and it seems almost impossible, but Jesus is asleep on a cushion the whole time. He is not afraid, but they are. They are terrified because they don’t yet know the fullness of who Jesus is, and he certainly wants to show them. he is resting in the confidence and certainty of who he is and his power, even over nature. He is going out of his way to make a point – even a violent challenge in life can be overcome by faith in Jesus Christ.
As always, the questions are significant. The disciples awaken Jesus with, “Do you not care that we are dying? His response to the storm is twofold, “Quiet! Be still!”
In the midst of the storms of our lives don’t we yearn for things to be quiet and still?” It also begs us to question the things we are afraid of.
The story goes on to tell us that the wind (the cause) ceased and the result was great calm. This simple distinction between what causes fear and the result being calm can serve as a pattern for us to follow. Obviously if we can address the things that cause our fears, we can experience a sense of calm.
Jesus then asks the key question, “Why are you terrified?” Without waiting for a response, he asks a second question, “Do you not yet have faith?”
This is a very Markan passage, in other words typical and consistent with this Gospel’s portrayal of the disciples as slow to understand and comprehend the lessons that Jesus is teaching them. There is a glimmer of hope though as he uses the word “yet.” But they are filled with awe and this is certainly a significant moment in their unfolding realization of who Jesus is, and their struggle to have faith in him.
If the passage was in John’s Gospel the follow up would be that the disciples began to believe in Jesus, but since we are hearing from Mark, the passage ends with yet another question by the disciples: “Who then is this whom even the wind and sea obey?”
A great complement to this very human story from is the statement: “Whoever is in Christ is a new creation,” from our second reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians. When we spiritually dwell in the presence of Christ there is always the possibility of new life.
Dwelling in Christ can mean many things, for example taking prolonged time to reflect on a passage of scripture, or studying some aspect of our faith.
But I believe that the best way to dwell in Christ is to celebrate the Eucharist. Our rich faith tradition teaches us that the sacred encounter with Christ is manifest as the community gathers, the word of scripture is proclaimed, heard and reflected on in a manner that connects our story with God’s. The work of the Holy Spirit then changes simple bread and wine into something far from simple – the Body and Blood of Christ. We then share that changed bread and wine. The reality of Christ’s presence is received into our body and soul. Our REAL presence meets Christ’s REAL presence, and the result is sacred.
The Eucharist is so much about life because a gathering of grateful people can connect stories with ones that have been inspired by God through the centuries, and through faith and through the Holy Spirit, even in the midst of the most violent storms of life, we get nourishment to face our fears and strength to address what terrifies us. If we trust that in Christ we can become a new creation, we can also come to know and love the one who even the wind and the sea obey.