Post-feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God; Our Venerable Mother Theodora of Alexandria (474-91)
Read
2 Corinthians 13:3-13; Mark 4:35-41
The disciples, who were expert fishermen, were coming back from participating in the great miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, knew the lake and had many times before sailed boats from one place to another. They were probably feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment when out of nowhere a life-threatening storm overtook them. The Lord was resting comfortably on a pillow and was not bothered by the storm for He fully trusted in the Father’s providential care. This is an important faith element the disciples were missing. After rebuking the wind and the sea the Lord rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith. By this, He teaches us that faith requires trust.
How often does it happen that we enter into a time of unexpected trial? Our life seems to go from mundane routine to an overwhelming stormy whirlwind. Not only do the storms of life seem to swamp us, but the Lord seems distant and uninterested in our struggles. Storms will come and storms will go, but faith requires that we trust in the Lord’s providential care even when He may seem distant. Trust that even in these stormy moments of my life the Lord holds me and can bring me out a better human being and stronger Christian. The disciples learned this when they were humbled by the discovery of God’s presence in Jesus and how their faith still lacked the important element of trust in God’s providential care.