A call to prayer: God of glory and power, you sent your Son to redeem us from the waters of chaos and death. Grant us wisdom and courage to turn to you in prayerful confidence when the forces of sin and destruction threaten our peace and the peace of those around us. We ask this in your name, Amen.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 4:35-41
On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Let us cross to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.
And other boats were with him.
A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,
so that it was already filling up.
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?”
He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”
The wind ceased and there was great calm.
Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?”
They were filled with great awe and said to one another,
“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”
The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Focus: Mark is writing to the early Christians in Rome who are being persecuted and whose lives are upset and threatened. The storm at sea represents the evil that God conquers. Jesus calms the sea and puts our life back in order.
Questions for reflection and sharing:
1. What words stand out for you in this gospel?
2. How does the gospel reading portray the disciples’ relationship with Jesus?
3. How has the word of God in the Scriptures stilled your storms?
Concluding prayer: All-loving God, you stilled the raging of the waves. You rebuked the wind and set the sea at rest. Calm our fears. Stir up our faith that we may lend our hands to your work of making the whole creation new. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
