12TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME B
IS THE LORD IN YOUR BOAT?
MK 4: 35-41
MESSAGE
In the Bible, the boat is a sign of safety and protection; remember Noah’s ark?… It is also a sign of faith and trust in God. The Gospel today depicts the disciples in a boat and “they took (Jesus) with them…” They were on a journey and they were not by themselves; they had the Lord Jesus with them aboard. And it proved to be a wise decision.
The boat is also a sign and reminder of dangers, of life’s precariousness. The boat is not destined for the port, but for the waters, and the waters of a lake, sea or ocean are unpredictable and treacherous. Remember the story of the prophet Jonah?… In their voyage, the disciples met a ferocious storm and they knew their lives were threatened. Instinctively, they remembered to approach the Lord. Jesus calmed the waters and the winds, and put to rest the anxious hearts of his disciples. The journey reached its destination safely and successfully because Jesus was the best and most reliable companion.
REFLECT
The Gospel today describes the life of faith. As followers of Jesus, do we invite him into our boat… the boat of life, of struggles, of challenges? Call on him at every moment but approach him with sincere faith and trust when you encounter a storm. Believe in his powerful word and like the disciples, be amazed by his strength and protection.
