26 March 2020 “Peace, be still...Why are you so afraid?” (Mark 4:39-40)

Over the last two days, we have been hearing the words “do not be afraid.” On Tuesday when Jesus walked on the water and said this to his disciples in the storm and yesterday when the angel Gabriel said the same thing to Mary. Today Jesus is saying to us why are you still so afraid? Doesn’t this give you the feeling that he is truly with us, he knows exactly how we feel. The rapid spread of the Coronavirus and all the restrictions that are being placed on us are not easy to deal with. There is still much fear and uncertainty about the near future, but Jesus is with us and he is riding this storm with us. Through the Scriptures and through our prayers.

Today’s miracle story from the Gospel is a very beautiful one. Jesus is asleep in the boat and a big storm erupts and puts him and his disciples in danger. Of course the disciples who are afraid go to Jesus and wake him up saying to him, where are you (waynak), we are drowning. Jesus, woke up, calms the storm by rebuking it and then also rebukes the disciples for their lack of faith.

Today we are asking Jesus the same question, waynak? We are asking because we are afraid of the unknown, not because of our lack of faith. I don’t know about you, but like I said in my homily today, this is the time that we need to activate all our prayers, all our rosaries, every single Mass that we have attended, every Saint that we have called on and fully awaken Jesus in us so that he can calm the storm within us. Today he is saying to us: “Peace, be still…. why are you still afraid”? I am with you and will never leave your side! Let us always trust in his presence. Even though you may be far from the Church, he is still with you and so are we.

Amen