From today’s reading...
Then he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened? Have you still no faith?’ They were overcome with awe and said to one another, ‘Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.’” Mark 4:40-41
In today’s first reading from Job 38, we see God answering Job with references to “the tempest…the sea…black clouds…here your proud waves must break!”
Similarly, in today’s Responsorial Psalm, we read:
“Voyagers on the sea in ships, plying their trade on the great ocean,
have seen the works of Yahweh, his wonders in the deep.
By his word he raised a storm-wind, lashing up towering waves.
Up to the sky then down to the depths! Their stomachs were turned to water;
They cried out to Yahweh in their distress, he rescued them from their plight,
he reduced the storm to a calm, and all the waters subsided,
and he brought them, overjoyed at the stillness, to the port where they were bound.
Let them thank Yahweh for his faithful love, for his wonders for the children of Adam!”
(Psalm 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31)
The Apostles were familiar with these readings, yet they did not think they applied to them.
Jesus was literally following the stories they could repeat verbatim from Job and the Psalms, yet their lack of faith caused them to panic, worry, and even chastise Jesus.
Take these stories to heart. Internalize their lessons.
Know that they apply to you and me today, and have been given to us so that we may...
Stay the course.
Keep the faith.
Endure.
Now go sell something.