Quiet! Be Still!

June 21, 2009
Bulletin Cover

Today’s gospel text offers a comforting image. It is an image of the calming presence
of Jesus. In the midst of a storm, he quiets the winds and sea and shows to his disciples
his intention to bring them calm and reassurance when they are troubled by the storms of
uncertainty, trouble, crisis, and doubt.

Our faith seeks the comfort and reassurance of Jesus in these times of change and
uncertainty. We face serous issues—the recession, unemployment, foreclosures, health
care costs, a fragile environment. We all know someone who has lost a job because of
our weakened economy—members of our families, friends, parishioners, our guests. We
are concerned about the cost of health care and wonder if there will be a way to ensure
that all Americans can receive the care they need. We wonder if there can be a
reasonable solution to accessible heath care, especially for the poor, that those from
different sides of the issue can find agreement. The issues we face are many.
Beyond our shores there are storms of unrest and brutality. “Never again” has been
the promise that crimes against humanity would end, yet the genocide in Darfur
continues. The people of Iran are contesting elections, protesting fraud. Israelis and
Palestinians are in conflict over whether a Palestine state should be created. North
Korea has tested missiles to carry nuclear weapons. Hunger and disease claim the lives
of children in developing countries. It seems the same conflicts and problems are
passed on from one generation to the next, but are making the world more and more
dangerous.

We need to call to the heavens to ask the Lord’s help, to calm the storms of human
conflict and unrest, that his message somehow reach to the ends of the earth.
“Quiet! Be still!”

Perhaps we hear these words from Mark’s text and realize they speak to us. In our
own uncertainty, anxiety, and fear, the Lord’s voice is lost in the commotion and unrest of
our lives. Today we stop and listen to his words, and discover that he is standing with us
in the midst of our restlessness, loneliness, suffering, anger, discouragement, and loss.
We are not alone. Our faith embraces the comforting presence of God, who is not
detached from and indifferent about our sorrow and suffering, but, through the gift of the
Son, shares in our struggle. We seek his peace; we find calm in storms.

As a mission focused parish community, the storms of human suffering and chaos are
familiar to us. We see human suffering everyday. Hopefully, we offer to others a place,
and a way of being in relationship, that brings calm, peace, and reassurance. We are to
pray if we are to be faithful, so that the peace and love of the Lord can rest in our hearts.
As we serve others, his peace can be made known. As we nurture relationships with
others, his love is made real.

Finally, join me in welcoming two student volunteers from Notre Dame, Megan Trout, a Master of Divinity student, and Emily Salvaterra, our Summer Service Learning Program intern. Welcome Megan and Emily!