Mk.4: 35-41
“Faith is the bird that feels the light, when the dawn is still dark.” (Rabindranath Tagore) Our diaconate ministry were marked with COVID related memories… Those days I got a few opportunities to partake in the special funeral services held at the cremation centre. As per the protocol, all were recommended to use a PPE kit inside the cremation centre, and we should sanitize our body once the funeral service was over. I want to share a memorable experience that I had over there. One day, I finished the service and sanitizing my body, meanwhile a few meters away, I saw a priest sitting inside the vehicle. I recognized him because he was in his cassock. I was a little curious to know why he came over there in cassock, and it would be complicated for him to wear a PPE kit over the cassock. After all, I waited there to see what he was going to do?
Meantime, the family members of the deceased came there, and they all were in PPE kit. Then I thought that they would provide him with a PPE Kit, and he might use it. Nonetheless, I realized that he is not planning to use it from his gestures. I thought that he might be coming here for the first time; therefore, he may not be aware of the protocol. So I approached him and told him to use a PPE kit to ensure his safety. Then he told me that he had been regular there for the past few days. In the beginning, he had been using a PPE kit, and now he stopped it. He was very calm and shared that he did not touch the diseased body and, therefore, nothing to be anxious about. He asked for hand gloves and a face shield from the family. He wore that went for the funeral. I was not convinced of his decision and considered it an imprudent one. Finally, I witnessed him conducting the service. That particular moment deeply imprinted in my mind and remained in me more than all the services I had over there. Later on, this thought lingered in my mind ‘why did he go there without a PPE kit?’ I could find only one answer so far… ‘His unshakable and passionate faith…’
In today’s gospel, we witness a faith deepening experience of disciples. Most of them were having the background of fisher flock and quite used to the unexpected storms of the Sea of Galilee. Therefore, they were equipped and knew how to manage this crisis moment. Nevertheless, it was beyond their control, and they could sense the smell of danger in their midst. The fascinating factor in this account is the response of Jesus. He was sleeping calmly at the stern. It is a little challenging to grasp that he could sleep at the stern when waves broke over the boat. Anyway, we can be sure that he was not acting as though he was asleep. After a hectic day, he must be tired and caused him to fall into a deep sleep. Even then, the question remains: ‘why did he not disturb in such a turbulent storm? The only answer that we could arrive at is ‘his Unshakable and passionate faith…’
He knew that nothing would happen to his life without his Father’s knowledge, and he has perfect command over creation because He is the Lord of creation and He is the master of the sea. Thus, Jesus becomes an ideal role model for his disciples and all of us at this crisis moment. Then, the next question could be, ‘why did he not interfere in this scene little in advance?’ He wanted his disciple to realize that they should encounter crisis moments relying on his grace rather than on their strength and past experiences. They should grow into the awareness that sleeping is not an ordinary human person but the author of their life and master of the sea. When they surrender their helplessness, he gets up and calms the sea.
As we all pass through these crisis moments of our lives, a question that we encounter constantly might be: ‘where is Jesus when all are perishing?’ We can’t find a perfect and convincing answer for all the tragedies we face in and around us. All the same, no one could say that he is absent in our lives. May this crisis moment help us grow deeper in our faith to surrender our fragilities at his feet and rely on his grace to pass through these challenging moments with great faith.