Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

Did you by chance happen to read yesterday’s readings? Perhaps today’s readings? I believe that the two days of readings set a beautiful theme for all of us to learn from.

Yesterday talks about evangelization and how each of us are called to that mission. It is our job to plant the seeds of faith in our children, to nourish that faith, to make it flower and bear fruit. It isn’t always our blessing to watch it come to light though. We are told that it may take years for that seed to take root and grow strong and mighty, but again, we are to continually nourish that seed of faith. We do so by the way we teach our children the faith, the way we act with each other as husband and wife, father and mother, friend and foe. We must continually be the example of Jesus’ love to all we meet – that is how the faith is planted and grown. And again, it may take years for the seed of faith to take root and grow in your children, in your friends, possibly even your spouse and you may not see the result of your hard work; someone else may end up sowing what you planted. Nevertheless, once you’ve planted that seed, keep nourishing it. Be strong and have faith that one day it will bear fruit.

Sarah and I have been planting those seeds for years, nourishing them, cultivating them. Some have already begun to bear fruit and some are still growing. It should be our main goal to keep the faith. Be not afraid; just have faith. I believe one way of showing that faith to our children (friends, spouse) is to show strength in times of distress. Many of our conversations around the dinner table this past year have been around COVID and politics, COVID and politics, COVID and politics. Based on this, there is a lot of “fear” that comes from these conversations as to what the world is coming to, what are Country is coming to and what are Catholic Church is coming to. So it was comforting for me to read today’s Gospel because it enforces my argument that I’ve been saying for quite some time now. Take a quick look at Today’s Gospel…

Gospel

Mk 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?”

Or how about the opening statement from our first reading…

Brothers and sisters:
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for 
and evidence of things not seen.

Do you have faith in God above? Do you have faith in Jesus? Do you believe in the strength of the Holy Spirit? If your answer to any of the above is YES, then I believe your seed may have taken root. If your answer to any of those questions was YES, then do not let your hearts be troubled with all that is going on today – your faith is in God, not in the WHO, not in Dr. Fauci, not in President Biden, not in Cardinal Gregory. Look to the front of the boat – is Jesus panicking? I don’t think so. Is Jesus worried about the future? I don’t think so. Have faith in God; have faith in Jesus. Have faith…and go get a cup of water – time to water your seeds again.

Do something great for our Lord today – tell you kids, your wife, your friends that you love them. Nourish them in the love of God and let their roots grow strong in Him. One last line from our Psalm this morning…

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the bonds of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.

I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.

Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.

But you man of God chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.