Faith Reflection and RE News 

Faith Reflection 

Mark 4:35-41- Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him

In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus and his disciples are crossing over the sea in a boat. Then it begins to blow a gale, with the waves breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped. Jesus, however, with his head on a cushion, was fast asleep. The disciples wake him and ask, “Master, do you not care? We are going down!” Jesus wakes up, rebukes the wind, and all was calm. Jesus turns to his disciples and says, “Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?” They were then filled with awe and said to one another, “Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.”

Personally, I always feel upon reading this passage that the writer was a little harsh on the disciples. Understandably afraid of the ship being swamped by the storm, they were expected to worry more about Jesus’ sleep than their survival! However, it is worth remembering when reading these passages that while there is a historical aspect to them, they are also theological. The writer is not only conveying what happened but also trying to say it in such a way that we better understand God. In other words, they are telling what happened while also making a point.

There are a few points that the writer was attempting to make. The first was that the disciples were not perfect—they constantly didn’t understand the message that Jesus was trying to convey. In this case, despite seeing all of the miracles and listening to Jesus in person, they still couldn’t fully trust themselves to Jesus. I think we can always relate to those moments ourselves—everyone at some point has felt like a stranded boat in the middle of a terrible sea. In those moments, when the chips are down, it can be very difficult to truly and wholeheartedly trust that God "has it covered." This is also repeated in another passage, where Jesus makes a comparison with the birds, saying that just as they are not afraid, nor should we be.

Digging further, though, there is a very subtle thing to notice about the miracle itself (and indeed all the miracles). Thinking about the Old Testament, none of the characters performed miracles themsevles - rather they are exchanges between people and God, or God intervening in the world. Moses himself does not part the sea nor perform any miracles himself.It is God, not Moses, who parts the sea. Noah is commanded by God, but it is God who creates the flood.  Jesus, however, isn’t a conduit like the Old Testament prophets—God doesn’t work through Jesus. Rather, Jesus is doing what God can do. 

The message of trusting God in difficult times would have been just as true then as it is now. We live in a world where climate change is accelerating, increasing global conflict, and a cost-of-living crisis felt every time we go to the shops. However, as people of faith, this passage reminds us that even if we may feel like God is asleep at the helm, he is not. 

-Jonathan Rooney

The Footprints Prayer

One night I had a dream…

I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, andAcross the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; One belonged to me, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before us, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, There was only one set of footprints.

I also noticed that it happened at the very lowestand saddest times in my lifeThis really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it.“Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,You would walk with me all the way;But I have noticed that during themost troublesome times in my life,There is only one set of footprints.I don’t understand why in times when Ineeded you the most, you should leave me.

The Lord replied, “My precious, preciouschild. I love you, and I would never,never leave you during your times oftrial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints,It was then that I carried you.

Sacraments

Confirmation -  Sunday 28th July @ 2.00pm 

First Communion -  Saturday 9th November @ 6.00pm 

Sunday 10th November @ 10.00am 

Saturday 16th November @ 6.00pm 

Sunday 17th November @ 10.00am 

Class Mass Timetable

NB: Please note the updates dates for 1/2 B and 3/4 C