The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to review the failings and storms on our journey and to accept the peace of faith in our relationship with Christ.
In the reading from the Second Book of Samuel, Bathsheba’s Child Dies.
* [12:1–7] David has committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged the death of her husband. Instead of directly indicting the king for this criminal abuse of his royal authority, the prophet Nathan tells David a story. In the story, a parable of David’s own actions, a powerful man takes cruel advantage of his vulnerable neighbor. Hearing the story, David is outraged and denounces the rich man—thus unwittingly pronouncing judgment on himself (“You are the man,” v. 7).
* [12:6] Fourfold restitution: David’s judgment foreshadows the deaths of four of his own sons: the child born of his adulterous union with Bathsheba (v. 18); Amnon (13:28–29); Absalom (18:15; 19:1); and Adonijah (1 Kgs 2:24–25).
* [12:11] In broad daylight: lit., “before the eyes of the sun”; the phrase echoes “before your very eyes” and anticipates “in the presence of the sun itself” (v. 12). The reference is to Absalom’s action in appropriating his father’s harem (16:22). (2 Samuel, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 51 is a Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon.
* [Psalm 51] A lament, the most famous of the seven Penitential Psalms, prays for the removal of the personal and social disorders that sin has brought. The poem has two parts of approximately equal length: Ps 51:3–10 and Ps 51:11–19, and a conclusion in Ps 51:20–21. The two parts interlock by repetition of “blot out” in the first verse of each section (Ps 51:3, 11), of “wash (away)” just after the first verse of each section (Ps 51:4) and just before the last verse (Ps 51:9) of the first section, and of “heart,” “God,” and “spirit” in Ps 51:12, 19. The first part (Ps 51:3–10) asks deliverance from sin, not just a past act but its emotional, physical, and social consequences. The second part (Ps 51:11–19) seeks something more profound than wiping the slate clean: nearness to God, living by the spirit of God (Ps 51:12–13), like the relation between God and people described in Jer 31:33–34. Nearness to God brings joy and the authority to teach sinners (Ps 51:15–16). Such proclamation is better than offering sacrifice (Ps 51:17–19). The last two verses express the hope that God’s good will toward those who are cleansed and contrite will prompt him to look favorably on the acts of worship offered in the Jerusalem Temple (Ps 51:19 [20–21]). (Psalms, PSALM 51 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus Stills a Storm
* [4:35–5:43] After the chapter on parables, Mark narrates four miracle stories: Mk 4:35–41; 5:1–20; and two joined together in Mk 5:21–43. See also notes on Mt 8:23–34 and 9:8–26.
* [4:39] Quiet! Be still!: as in the case of silencing a demon (Mk 1:25), Jesus rebukes the wind and subdues the turbulence of the sea by a mere word; see note on Mt 8:26.
* [4:41] Jesus is here depicted as exercising power over wind and sea. In the Christian community this event was seen as a sign of Jesus’ saving presence amid persecutions that threatened its existence. (Mark, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
Steve Scholer comments that, in our world today, there is so much more than a stormy passage across a lake to worry about. From pandemics that sweep the globe, to the random violence we inflict upon each other, to the human suffering from wars being waged in far off corners of the world, to the more personal, such as the cancer eating away at the life of a loved one. We are surrounded by events that, the more we dwell on them, the more they can cripple our own wellbeing. So where do we turn?
Biblical scholars discussing the meaning of faith state, Hebrews 11 teaches us that pistis (πίστις) is about more than belief—“faith” is a present affirmation of God's existence, confidence in his ability to enact change in the world, and certainty that his promises will be fulfilled.
But is this the type of faith we presently have? Are we confident that God exists, that God can enact change in our messy world, and that the promise of eternal life will be fulfilled?
As we go about our day, let’s focus on placing more trust in Jesus and his watchful eye and healing power. Let’s pray more, not only for the world around us, but for God’s help in building our faith. And let’s put our faith into action, to show the world who we really are.
Remember, having a strong faith is much like staying in physical shape. Faith is not just something we can say we have unless we work to strengthen it. It requires our renewed commitment to love and serve the Lord each and every day. (Scholer, 2024)
Don Schwager quotes “Awakening the Christ asleep within you,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"When you have to listen to abuse, that means you are being buffeted by the wind. When your anger is roused, you are being tossed by the waves. So when the winds blow and the waves mount high, the boat is in danger, your heart is imperiled, your heart is taking a battering. On hearing yourself insulted, you long to retaliate; but the joy of revenge brings with it another kind of misfortune - shipwreck. Why is this? Because Christ is asleep in you. What do I mean? I mean you have forgotten his presence. Rouse him, then; remember him, let him keep watch within you, pay heed to him... A temptation arises: it is the wind. It disturbs you: it is the surging of the sea. This is the moment to awaken Christ and let him remind you of those words: 'Who can this be? Even the winds and the sea obey him." (excerpt from Sermons 63:1-3) (Schwager, 2017)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 4:35-41 comments that Jesus loves us too much to abandon us. No matter what situation we find ourselves in, he will stay close to us.
So if you’re in a storm and worried that Jesus doesn’t care, go ahead and wake him up. Tell him you’re frightened and confused. Be honest about your fears. But also let him ask you the question he asked the disciples: “Why are you terrified?” (Mark 4:40). Let him show you all the ways he has cared for you so that you can trust him now. Let him remind you of his faithfulness and power so that you can believe that he will continue, in love, to watch over you.
“Jesus, I believe you love me and have my life firmly in hand.” (Meditation on Mark 4:35-41, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes how the parable that Nathan relates to David makes him irate even as he realizes how it describes his relationship with Bathsheba. The rabbinic maxim is that “as the crime, so the punishment.” Friar Jude notes that the nature miracle calming the storm is cleaned up by Matthew and it also is a sign of Jesus' power over demonic forces that were connected to the sea.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces psychologist Rick Hanson who suggests we can increase our ability to feel and act from compassion through nurturing our own equanimity. The word “compassion” comes from the Latin roots com and pati which mean “to suffer with.” We add the suffering of others to our own, a gift at the heart of being human. How can we be moved by the sorrows of others without becoming flooded, drained, or burned out?
To sustain compassion, we need equanimity, a kind of inner shock absorber between the core of your being and whatever is passing through awareness.… With equanimity, you can feel the pain of others without being swept away by it—which helps you open to it even more fully.…
As you face the enormity of the suffering in this world, you might feel flooded with a sense of despair at the impossibility of ever doing enough. If this happens, it can help to take some kind of action, since action eases despair.…
Think about the people in your life, including those you don’t know well. Could you make a difference to someone? Seemingly little things can be very touching. Consider humanity in general as well as nonhuman animals, and see if something is calling to you. Not to burden you, but to push back against helplessness and despair.… (Rohr, 2017)
We reflect on the action and inaction of our lives and resolve to respond to the call of the Spirit to wake up and accept the guidance of Jesus to triumph over the storms of our journey.
References
Mark, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 27, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/4?
Meditation on Mark 4:35-41. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 27, 2024, from https://wau.org/
Psalms, PSALM 51 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 27, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/51?12
Rohr, R. (2017, November 9). Faithful Resilience: Weekly Summary. CAC Daily Meditations. Retrieved January 27, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/faithful-resilience-weekly-summary/
Scholer, S. (2024, January 18). U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 27, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/012724.html
Schwager, D. (2017, November 9). Why Are You Afraid? Daily Scripture net. Retrieved January 27, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jan27
2 Samuel, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 27, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/12?1
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