Mark 4:35-41 (12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 21, 2015)

Gospel:

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?”


Gospel Trivia:

We should note the following in interpreting Mark's message of this gospel passage:

- The gospels were written several decades after the death and resurrection of Jesus; in the case of the gospel of Mark, the earliest gospel to be written, biblical scholars estimate it was written between 60 to 70 AD.  By this time, Christianity was beginning to spread and the early church was also beginning to face much challenge and persecutions.

- The sea was perceived as a place of danger and mystery.  It is also not unusual that a squall (a sudden windy storm) to occur in Lake Galilee (the scene in the gospel), as the cold winds from the Mediterranean meet the winds from the Syrian desert.

Thus, Mark's intention in this gospel passage is to reassure the early Christians that Jesus, though no longer with them physically, continues to care for them; and that they should hang on to their faith.

Note that the phrase, "Do you not have faith?" is said AFTER Jesus calmed the storm; whereas, it is more logical to mention their lack of faith first, and then perform the miracle (as is done in Matthew's version of this same episode).

By mentioning if after the miracle, Mark's is able to more strongly emphasize the disciples lack of faith.  The disciples panic, Jesus calms the storm, and then says, "there, couldn't you have trusted that I would protect you."

When we face the storms in our life, do we panic?  Or keep the faith?

Reference:


- Nil Guillemette, SJ, A Kingdom for All (Makati: St. Paul's Publications), pp. 42-44.