Facing the Storms of Life Together with Jesus
It was so windy…It was freezing…There has been frost on the road and on the car…”. These were a few remarks that I heard from many in the past few days. The Royal Commission report released last week has sent another chill through us as Christians and members of the Church. We haven’t yet forgotten and fully recovered from the devastating impacts of recent cyclone Gabrielle on our country. There is so much of unrest and confusion all around the world especially in the context of ongoing wars and the storms of anxiety and worries caused by the ongoing Corona Virus Pandemic (Covid-19). And we, as individuals, families, nations, and Church are not immune to these things that happen in and around us.
The Gospel for this weekend, speaks about an incident that had a far-reaching impact on the faith of the disciples in Jesus. The boat in which the disciples were travelling was being tossed about by the headwind. The disciples were so overcome with fear that they could not even recognise Jesus who was coming to their rescue. But as Jesus approached the apostles, miraculously walking on water, he allayed their fears by telling them, “It is I.” The presence of Jesus calmed both their fears and the storm.
It is quite likely that we too are tossed about in life by storms of sorrow, storms of doubt, tension and uncertainty, storms of anger and despair, storms of temptations, and storms in family relationships. Under these trying circumstances we are called to revive our faith in the loving God. It is important for us to realise that peace flows only from a personal relationship with God, with Jesus, enhanced through prayer, meditative reading of Scripture and active participation in the Holy Mass and reception of the Sacraments when these are available to us. Because Jesus draws closer to each of us through these by saying: “courage! It is I”.
Let us remember that if we make Christ as our vision, our point of arrival and the center of our lives – we can survive, and successfully overcome all the storms of life. God is always there to help and rescue us provided we put our faith and trust in Him.
God’s Blessings! Fr. Joy
