Facing the Storms of Life

Father Curtis bounced down the stairs and burst into the dining room where Father Greg was having breakfast. “Well, you are full of energy this morning” said Fr. Greg. “Why so happy?” Fr. Curtis replied “The sun is shining and its finally summer. I heard the birds singing and I said to myself, ‘It’s going to be a great day.’” Then the phone rang! The parish secretary came in and told Fr. Curtis that Chip wanted to talk to him. Curtis excused himself and took the call in the hall.

Chip said “I have bad news, Father. Last night an undocumented terrorist fire-bombed the house currently occupied by a refugee from Israel. Four homes in a row were destroyed by the quickly spreading fire. Soon crowds assembled seeking revenge. The police were outnumbered and couldn’t control the crowds. It looks bad, Father!”

Fr. Curtis responded, “What can I do?” Hanging up the phone, Curtis took a deep breath and said a prayer. “Jesus, I never thought this would happen in our small town. What can I do? Please tell me what you want me to do.”  (Pause)

Jesus was working in Galilee, cleansing people with leprosy, healing the sick, curing Peter’s mother-in -law. The word spread quickly, and the townspeople brought all the sick to Jesus for healing. He worked long into the evening. There was much joy in the town with so many people cured of their sickness, and even those possessed by demons were freed.  When Jesus saw a big crowd around him, he told his disciples that it was time to cross the lake to the other side.

This is where we pick up today’s gospel lesson. A violent storm came up and waves were breaking over the boats and the boats were filling up with water. Consider how their time of peace was followed by storm on the lake that threatened their very life. This happened to Fr. Curtis in my opening story. The early morning calm and peace soon turned into violence. Who knows what would happen to the town? What storms have you faced in the past? What storms are you dealing with right now? The difficulties and hardships we experience can leave us feeling like the disciples in the boat whose lives were threatened by the violent squall on the lake.

In their panic, the disciples’ only thought was their impending death in the storm. Then they remembered Jesus. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”   Fr. Curtis took a deep breath and turned in prayer to Jesus for help. When your life is threatened by the storms of sickness, loneliness, and abandonment, surely you wonder if Jesus will be present to you in your storms. Like the disciples, where is Jesus when you need him? Call to Jesus and ask for his help. Jesus hears you. Really, he does!

In the boat, Jesus woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!’ The wind ceased and there was great calm. Jesus asked the disciples, “Why are you terrified. Do you not yet have faith?” In the first reading from the Book of Job, God addressed Job out of the storm, reminding him that He, God, creator, is in charge. God set limits in creation, God established boundaries that formed rivers, lakes, and oceans. Jesus, the Son of God, also has power – power to calm the storms of your life. Fr. Curtis knew in his heart that Jesus would answer his plea for help.

When Jesus went into the garden after the last supper with his disciples, he began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to Peter, James, and John, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; still, not my will, but yours be done.” The Father did not abandon Jesus. He gave him the strength needed to endure the agony and the punishment of crucifixion so that our sins would be forgiven; and that we would have the peace found in redemption. Jesus answers your cry for help so that you can endure the agony and the pain of your suffering.

In the midst of disaster, look for Jesus’s authority in your life. Remember that God is in charge. Destructive storms in your life are not resolved by your power, but by the power of Jesus’s love for you. Love (God is love) is not merely the experience of emotional excitement of being with another. True love, divine love, is transformative, letting Jesus draw you deeper into the mercy won in his sacrificial death and resurrection. Your challenge is to see God’s authority in your life and in any difficult situation in which you find yourself. Surrender to God and let God protect and guide you to peace again.

Father Curtis was not able to fix the situation. He turned to the Lord and trusted that Jesus would show him the way. Nor can you fix bad situations. But you can let Jesus show you the way to peace as you suffer the storms of your life. Pray with Jesus: “Not my will, but your will be done!” Now the psalm response we just sang this morning makes sense: Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.