A Few Words On "The Word"

June 25, 2006
The Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark 4: 35-41

Crossing Over to the Other Side

Sometimes the smallest detail in a gospel passage turns out to be the key that unlocks all the doors of meaning. Take the first, seemingly simple thing Jesus says here: "Let us cross over to the other side." He's talking about taking the boat across the lake, of course. But there's more. With Jesus, there is always more.

Keep these hints in mind as we read on: Cross. Cross over. Pass over. Wild wind and waves: capsizing, sinking, drowning, dying. The other side.

This gospel passage is about more than bad weather ruining a day at the beach, although it is about this, too. Why is Jesus sleeping? He's been teaching all day, trying to show those who would follow him not only what he can do, but what they are capable of doing. He sleeps because he trusts that they can take care of things.

When we listen to Jesus, when we follow his example, we know the way to live more fully and the way to love more deeply. Isn't this the "other side" to which they head off in the boat here?

To get to the other side, to live more fully and to love more deeply, we cross over, pass through all kinds of storms, all kinds of challenges and fears and doubts. (The cross of Jesus is our boat, the ark that saves us.) Sometimes we worry that God has left us, that we can't do this. We feel like we are capsizing, sinking, drowning. But Jesus is right there, trusting that we can do it, believing that we can weather the storm. He even puts his life in our hands!

Jesus loves us to his death. By raising Jesus from the dead, God calms the winds and waves. What used to seem like a tornado becomes a gentle breeze. And the waters of chaos, waves of pain and dying become the calm, life-giving waters of the baptismal font. God turns death into life, and Jesus asks us, "Do you, will you believe that you can do it, too?"

Reflection Question

What tornado or tidal wave that threatens to rough you up do you need Jesus to calm?

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