Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?

 

 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."  Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was.  And other little boats were also with Him.  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.  But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.  And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"  Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!"  And the wind ceased and there was great calm.  But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?"  And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"

 

- Mark 4:35–41 

 

In our recent readings, two great "landmarks" of Christ's public ministry have occurred.  On Monday, we read that Jesus went up on a mountain, called twelve of His disciples to Himself, and designated them to become apostles.  On Wednesday, Jesus began to preach in parables to the great multitudes that now gather to Him.   In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught more parables to the crowds:  He said to them, "Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed?  Is it not to be set on a lampstand?  For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."  Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear.  With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.  For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."  And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.  For the earth yields crops by itself:  first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.  But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."  Then He said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God?  Or with what parable shall we picture it?  It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade."  And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.  But without a parable He did not speak to them.  And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.   

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."  Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was.  And other little boats were also with Him.  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.  But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.  And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"  Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!"  And the wind ceased and there was great calm.  But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?"  And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"  My study Bible explains that this story makes clear Christ's divinity as commands to the sea and waves can only be issued by God (Job 38:8-11; Psalms 66:5-6, 107:29).   At the same time, He was asleep, showing us His humanity, and that as a human being, He needed rest.  In His Incarnation, my study Bible says, Christ assumed all the natural actions of the flesh, of which sleep is one.  So we have elements that teach us that Christ is divine and is the Messiah, and at the same time that He is fully human with human needs.  

My study Bible reminds us that this image of Christ in a boat with His disciples is one traditionally understood as an image of the Church.  It notes that God both permits storms and delivers us through them, so that we can see God's protection more clearly.  Furthermore, Christ's rebuke of the storm teaches us also about our own depth of need for Him, to calm the tempests that arise within us.  As faithful, we all follow the footsteps of the disciples in this sense.  Moreover, there's an important lesson here, as we keep in mind that Christ has only recently called the Twelve to become His particular disciples who will be the first apostles, sent out with Christ's power shared with them to heal and to preach and to cast out demons.  In this sense, this journey prepares them for the journeys that will be now ahead of them, including the time when He is no longer in the world as the human Jesus.  My study Bible says that here specifically, He deliberately permits this great windstorm to arise while He's asleep as a part of the process of perfecting the disciples faith, and to rebuke their weaknesses, so that eventually they will be unshaken by the temptations of life -- such as great fear.  Here their faith, we can see, is still mixed with unbelief.  They showed faith in coming to Him, but unbelief when they declared "we are perishing."  We can see how Christ is shaping them for their future as the apostles they will become, sent out to all the world and in all kinds of unforeseen and indeed, dangerous, circumstances.  Many of them will lose their lives or be forced to live in exile and through persecutions of the Church.  But we may also model our own lives following this image of the disciples with Christ in the boat on the sea that is subject to occasional windstorms.  Let us not forget, several of these men have spent their lives as fishermen on this very sea, and yet the windstorm is such that it is terrifying and they fear for their lives.  So, when we encounter these images in today's reading, we should really consider viewing our own lives within this same framework.  For Christ is preparing them through such challenging events for the things in their future, and for their lives as disciples and apostles.  Indeed, discipleship means "learning" (the Greek for disciple means "learner").  As with athletes, discipline comes through testing and struggle, meeting new challenges to become more proficient at what we do.  So it is with what are traditionally called "spiritual athletes."  Every discipline of the Church is meant to help us to grow in our faith, and to become stronger in it, more masterful in this sense.  The historical practice of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving during Lent are aspects of such discipline, and all are meant as a kind of training for faith.  We might abstain from some food we like, but at the same time we develop the discipline to abstain from, for example, overindulging in fear or other passions, from letting them get the better of us and causing us to  forget our faith.  If we can see our challenges in life as ways to test our faith, to meet a struggle and find where our weaknesses are so that we might come to terms with them and strengthen ourselves, then we are on the right track to meet life where Christ takes His disciples.  In this perspective, there is only the journey to consider and the immediate things at hand with which Christ meets us so that we may learn how to develop a deeper faith and reliance upon God.  Let us consider that we are always being prepared for the spiritual journey ahead, no matter where it takes us or where God wants us to go.  In this context, it's not the world's goals we need to meet, but the Lord who guides us and seeks what's best for that journey.

Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water

 

 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  Now when evening came, He was alone there.  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!"  And they cried out for fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  So He said, "Come."  And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.  And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

 

- Matthew 14:22–36 

 

Yesterday we read that when Jesus heard that King Herod feared Him, He departed from by boat to a deserted place by Himself.  But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.  And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.  When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late.  Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."  But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away.  You give them something to eat."  And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."  He said, "Bring them here to Me."  Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass.  And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.  So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.  Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

 

  Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  We recall that Jesus' plan was to seek to withdraw from the scrutiny of Herod Antipas, for as Herod began to hear of Jesus, he feared that Jesus was John the Baptist returned from the dead, and that this was the explanation for Christ's miraculous works.  Here, after feeding the multitude, He once again withdraws for solitude to pray.

Now when evening came, He was alone there.  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!"  And they cried out for fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  My study Bible comments that only God has dominion over nature; therefore, this miracle is a confirmation of the divinity of Christ.  It is now the second time that Jesus has permitted His disciples to be caught in a storm (see also Matthew 8:23-27).  The first time, He was with them.  But here he had left them alone.  In this way, my study Bible explains, Christ strengthens their faith that He will always be with them in the midst of the storms of life.   It is I is literally translated "I Am," which is the divine Name of God (see Exodus 3:14; John 8:58).  My study Bible adds that Christ reminds the fearful disciples of His absolute and divine authority over their lives.  

And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  So He said, "Come."  And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"   My study Bible says that Peter's faith allows him to walk on the water.  It asks us to note that Peter does not ask to walk on water per se, but rather to come to Jesus.  Peter's desire is not to perform miracles but to be with Christ.  Peter is able to participate in this divine miracle as long as he keeps his focus on Christ.  When he becomes distracted, he begins to sink.

 

 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  My study Bible explains that the Greek term for doubt used here means "wavering" or "hesitation."  Peter's sinking was due not to the storm but rather his doubt; so Christ does not rebuke the wind -- but rebukes Peter.

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."  This response bears some resemblance to the words of the centurion who stood at the Cross and witnessed Christ's Passion (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39).  My study Bible comments that this is the first time the disciples confess that Jesus is the Son of God.  As they know that only God can be worshiped, they confess His divinity by worshiping Him.  Here, the boat is symbolic of the Church.  

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.  And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.  Again, the miracles of healing are prominent in Christ's ministry.  My study Bible comments that Christ permits miracles through touch to show that His very body is life, and that contact with His flesh is life-creating (see Matthew 9:20-22).  

Stories of the miraculous give us a particular feel in Scripture, a sense of something extraordinarily present that grips our imagination and asks it to go beyond our everyday boundaries and expectations.  There are many who read Scripture and automatically discount the miracles they encounter there.  But Scripture is a kind of literature that asks us to read what it contains with a perspective that everything in it is necessary for us to grasp something, to receive what there is to give.  I also cannot immediately dismiss all possibility of the miraculous, if only because what might be considered miraculous seems to happen and surprise people all the time.  This is particularly true of things that seem to be coincidental, or dreams that give us a hint of things that are happening elsewhere, a sense that pervades prayer, an intuition that supplies an answer we'd been grasping for but couldn't find in some normal "rational" sense.  But let us consider for a moment the miracles of Christ, for they are all, importantly and essentially for us, connected to faith.  My study Bible points out that St. Peter is able to walk on the water toward Christ so long as he keeps his focus on Christ, a key to understanding the miraculous sense here.  The people who bring their sick to be healed have the sort of faith that resembles that of the woman with the twelve year blood flow: we're told that they begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.  This connection of faith is clearly the thread -- or perhaps we should say rope -- by which we make contact with potentials that are far beyond the daily grasp of the worldly.  It's also quite essential that we know Peter requested Jesus to command him to walk toward Him, so Peter knows he's responding to a command from Christ.  Moreover, it's the fourth watch of the night, which begins at three o'clock in the morning, and so there is only whatever light might be found on the sea from the stars and moon.  Just as Peter begins to sink once he takes his eyes of the Jesus, so when we lose that thread (or rather, that sturdy rope to hang onto) we also risk sinking into the daily grind of limited expectations and colorless perspective.  Faith, on the other hand, can inspire from depths we didn't know we had.  Indeed, faith can open up depths within us to explore -- to be healed of painful trauma we conceal from ourselves, and to open to creative energies we hadn't understood were there.  Faith gives us confidence just as it gave St. Peter, but we have to remember that it is that we look to Christ that is the key.  It's one thing to place one's faith in something inanimate, or something worldly and material, and another to place one's faith in Christ, the One came to the world in order to bring us life, and to bring life more abundantly (John 10:10).  That becomes a faith -- a key to union -- with something that offers us much more than we can give it.  That faith opens up to the work of the apostles, with whom Christ was able to share His power and authority.  That kind of faith opens up the fruit of the Spirit we read about in Galatians 5:22-23, allowing us to participate in those virtues we otherwise do not have the resources to muster.  These examples are just the bare minimum of gifts and inspiration that we can attribute to faith.  Faith confers the capacity to keep going when otherwise things simply look hopeless when we take God out of the picture.  Faith confers the ability to keep trying when recovery from illness seems impossible.  Faith teaches us that where there is life there is hope, and so on -- we could continue this list far beyond the limits of a blog post.  But what is of true importance, once again, is Whom it is that we put our faith into, for Christ has a gospel message, a Kingdom characterized by certain realities He teaches, and the power of love and life.  His is not the gospel of rage or vengeance or material power.  He offers us that special thing we see on display in today's reading, and if we can look around, we'll find it all around us in the world of the faithful of today, yesterday, and those to come.  In that light, I'd like to share an inspirational blog post regarding a young man called "Superman," written by his Dad (found at this Substack link, which can be read free of charge).  Through faith, a boy with serious struggles became Superman, and continues to inspire.  Let us consider the power of our faith today, in such a world of devastating spectacle, but so much potential that is hidden without that faith.  Let us consider the miraculous, and how it may appear to us when we are least expecting it, without the eyes of faith to see it.

 

 

 

 

Master, Master, we are perishing!

 Icon of the Calming of the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Greek Orthodox Church of the Twelve Apostles, Capernaum, Galilee (photo: Fr. Patrick McInerney)

"No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.  For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.  Therefore take heed how you hear.  For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."

Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd.  And it was told Him by some, who said, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You."  But He answered them and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."

Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples.  And He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake."  And they launched out.  But as they sailed He fell asleep.  And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.  And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!"  Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water.  And they ceased, and there was a calm.  But He said to them, "Where is your faith?"  And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be?  For he commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!"

- Luke 8:16-25

Yesterday we read that after Jesus preached the Sermon on the Plain, He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.  And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities -- Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.  And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable:  "A sower went out to sow his seed.  And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.  Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.  But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold."  When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"  Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?"  And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that  'Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'  Now the parable is this:  The seed is the word of God.  Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.  Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and the pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.  But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience."

  "No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.  For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.  Therefore take heed how you hear.  For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."  Jesus continues here to speak about the work of parables.  In yesterday's reading, He emphasized the capacity of the hearer to truly "hear," quoting from Isaiah (see Isaiah 6:9-10).  He indicates here that receptivity to the "mysteries of the Kingdom" will produce more, will allow those who can hear to grow in their capacity to comprehend.  He has revealed a great light, and now does so through parables.  But that light will come to those who can grasp it.  To those who are dull of perception, even what they have will be taken away.

Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd.  And it was told Him by some, who said, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You."  But He answered them and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."   There is a kind of relationship inherent in the capacity to receive His word, and here Jesus indicates this notion of family and communion.  His "brothers" are extended family, as the term brothers is still commonly used in the Middle East.  He's not rejecting His family, who haven't yet understood His mission and identity.  But, according to St. John Chrysostom, He corrects both them and His hearers "to the right idea concerning Himself," that the family of His Kingdom "is not by nature but by virtue."

Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples.  And He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake."  And they launched out.  But as they sailed He fell asleep.  And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.  And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!"  Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water.  And they ceased, and there was a calm.  But He said to them, "Where is your faith?"  And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be?  For he commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!"  My study bible says that Christ deliberately permits the windstorm to arise while He's sleeping in order to perfect their faith, and to rebuke their weaknesses, so that eventually they will remain unshaken by life's temptations.  These are the ones He will send out to the world on a mission, and they must be prepared for whatever they will encounter with faith.  Here their faith is still mixed with unbelief.  They showed faith when they came to Him, but unbelief when they said, "We are perishing."

Icons of the Church historically portray the Church as a boat or ship.  The image is an ancient one, and served the early Church to portray its mission on a sea of disbelief, persecution, and the problems of the world (or "worldliness").  In some sense the image illustrates what Jesus has taught in yesterday's reading with the parable of the Sower.  He taught that the seeds that did not truly take root and bear fruit were among those from whom the devil snatched away the word, or for whom temptations took away the word, or the cares, riches, and the pleasures of life choked out its roots.  The changes of life bring unanticipated challenges.  Chaos may be a part of that experience.  A stormy sea blown by the wind is an image of all of those obstacles that will be tossed on the path of the Church, that divine-human organism that carries the Word through human history.   In the story of the ship tossed by the sea, the disciples are terrified.  We remember that among them are seasoned fishermen (Peter, James, and John -- and most likely Andrew also, Peter's brother), and their fishing territory is the Sea of Galilee.  But in today's story, they are set off with Christ toward an unusual destiny to the other side of the lake (the Lake of Tiberias or Sea of Galilee are two names for the same body of freshwater), outside of what is known to them.  (There they will have a strange experience indeed.)  In a sense, this is a preparation mission, undertaken with Christ, for what they will be doing as His apostles.  He alone is calm enough to sleep while the boat is storm-tossed, and His one word to them is to ask, "Where is your faith?"  He is the one who calms the winds and the water.  But the Church will always be on this mission, and the ship has served as symbol from the earliest times of the Church.  The ship is also a reminder of Noah's ark, carrying those of faith through the waters of the earth.  It's a symbol that teaches us that the Church isn't an institution that stands still, but rather a living organism that is both human and divine, that must always meet its challenges, and is always on a pilgrimage with Christ to lead us.  It is an understanding that teaches us that we are reliant on Christ above all else.  From a Scriptural perspective, the Lord of the Old Testament, who guided Israel, is present as Christ.  The icon in the photo above is an icon of today's Scripture reading, but it also tells us something of the story of the Church.  If you look closely, you see two images of Christ in the boat:  one is of Him asleep, and in the other He is giving the blessing.  In both images, He is not only identified as Jesus Christ, but wears the crown of light in which is usually inscribed the letters that form the Greek version of the Tetragrammaton (Ο ΩΝ), that give the meaning "I am that I am," or the holy name of the Lord.  This ship isn't bound by time, as each moment of His life is with us, and He is presently always with us.  As we who make up the membership in the Church are all in this boat together, we may think of strengthening one another's faith as part of the mission of this ship, the way in which we survive and continue on and grow to meet our challenges, even through history.  On that boat are all the saints, and all who may guide and command, and the souls the ship will carry to its destination.  That is something, indeed, to think about.