Mass Readings and Meditations “The Word among Us” Saturday, 1 February
2014
Meditations: Mark 4: Jesus Stills a Storm
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us
go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him
with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great
windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already
being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke
him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He
woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the
wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you
afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great awe and
said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? (Mark 4:38)
In the familiar story “Footprints in the Sand,” a writer dreams
about walking along the beach with the Lord, making two sets of footprints that
merge into one during life’s most trying times. “Why, when I need you most,”
the author asks God, “have you not been there for me?” God answers, “The times
when you have seen only one set of footprints is when I carried you.”
The popularity of this story points not only to our need for the
Lord but also to how hard it is to believe that he really is with us at all
times. In today’s Gospel, the disciples pose a similar question to Jesus: Where
were you when we needed you? Didn’t you care enough to wake up? It must have wounded
Jesus’ heart to have been rebuked as an uncaring master when all he was doing
was waiting for them to call out to him. It’s just like the way he patiently
waits for us to recognize our limitations and invite him to act.
Like the disciples, perhaps you also feel that you have been
kept waiting too long for an answer to prayer. If you’re interceding for
people, you wonder why you see little or no progress. Why isn’t Jesus “zapping”
them with his power so that they will believe? It may seem like Jesus is asleep
at the helm, deaf to your cries. You may even want to rebuke him for taking so
long!
Try this instead. Imagine Jesus standing beside the “boats” of
the people you’re praying for. Picture them as their hearts soften. See their
eyes opening wide as they spy Jesus through the wind and rain of their storms.
Keep on praying, confident that Jesus never passes by anyone in a storm. He has
his own timing, wisdom, and plans.
“Jesus, you know who is on my heart when I cry out to you. Help
me to be persistent yet patient as you work in their lives.” Amen!
2 Samuel 12: 1 and the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to
him, and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and
the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds; 3 but the poor
man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up,
and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager
fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter
to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take
one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him,
but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come
to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to
Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; 6 he
shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had
no pity.”
7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord,
the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the
hand of Saul;
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house,
for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be
your wife. 11 Thus says the Lord: I will raise up trouble against you from
within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give
them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this
very sun. 12 For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all
Israel, and before the sun.” 13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against
the Lord.” Nathan said to David, “Now the Lord has put away your sin; you shall
not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the
Lord,[a] the child that is born to you shall die.” 15 Then Nathan went to his
house.
Bathsheba’s Child Dies
The Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and
it became very ill. 16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child; David
fasted, and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 The elders of his house
stood beside him, urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor did
he eat food with them.
Footnotes:
a. 2 Samuel 12:14 Ancient scribal tradition: Compare 1 Sam 25.22
note: Heb scorned the enemies of the Lord
Psalm 51: 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a
willing[a] spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will
return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will
sing aloud of your deliverance.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will
declare your praise.
16 For you have no delight in sacrifice;
if I were to give a
burnt offering, you would not be pleased.
17 The sacrifice acceptable to God[b] is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite
heart, O God, you will not despise.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 51:12 Or generous
b. Psalm 51:17 Or My sacrifice, O God,
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