You might remember the turbulent storm we had here late last Friday afternoon. Unlike our usual afternoon rain, this one had thunder that boomed and lightning that lit up our block. Branches were also knocked off trees. I even lost power for awhile. Eventually, it left as fast as it came.
I thought of that storm when I read today’s gospel. Can you imagine being in the middle of a lake when a storm we’re familiar with would suddenly engulf a boatload of passengers? Such is what happened to the apostles, and they were scared to death. They were out in this storm, not because they were doing something senseless, but because they were following Jesus. The first verse says, “As Jesus got into the boat, his disciples followed him.”
Jesus had been healing, teaching, and ministering to people all day, and he was probably tired. He got into the boat and the disciples got in with him because he asked them to join him. We know what happens next and we could ask ourselves, ‘when a storm happens in our life, and fear looms large, do we remember Christ is with us, too?’
Obviously, the storm came up without warning, like they sometimes do in our own life. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a little warning that it’s coming? And so, we fear something in the past, or the future, or what might never come to be. During these times, we can measure our faith. The Apostles certainly had to when they woke Jesus and he said to them: “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Even though the apostles woke Jesus up, perhaps it was Jesus who was trying to wake the apostles up to his abiding presence with them. Maybe today’s gospel message is reminding us to wake up the presence of Jesus in our hearts and in the situations in our lives. He is always with us, but do we acknowledge his presence? How often do we call upon him in our daily life? If we did, perhaps we’d be less fearful and more trusting. Awakening Jesus presence in our lives makes our faith grow and gives us renewed assurance that Jesus can calm whatever storm we face.
Today we celebrate Fr. Juniper Serra, a Spanish priest who also had storms in his life. ‘At the age of 55, he was given responsibility for a number of missions in what is now the Baja peninsula and California. He worked tirelessly, converting thousands and building 21 new missions.’ I am proud to say that my uncle, Fr. Patrick Finnegan, CMF, was a Claretian priest who served in one of those missions, San Gabriel Mission, for many years, and is buried there.
Fr. Serra, ‘frequently an advocate for the indigenous people he served, implored the Spanish authorities to adopt policies that would recognize the dignity of all, even walking over 2,000 miles to Mexico near the end of his life to champion this cause. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1988, and a statue of Fr. Serra representing the State of California stands in the National Hall in the U.S. Capitol building.’
St. Juniper Serra, canonized by Pope Francis in 2015, pray for us to have faith in Christ in the storms of life.
