"Quiet! Be still!" --- Peace

Today's Gospel from Mk 4:35-41 reminded me of a quote I saw at the house of a customer back in my plumbing days.

"God will either calm your storm, or let it rage while he calms you"

Although I pity the poor disciples.

"A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. (Vs 37)"

In this kind of circumstance, what else were they to do. And I guess the did the smart thing of going to their master to seek help. So why did Jesus scold them?

On reflection, I guess their approach was wrong... but so human. So many times, when we meet some trouble, some obstacle in life, we turn to God. But instead of humbly asking Him for help, we say, "Do you not care that we are perishing" And He answers, "Do you not yet have faith?" Reminds me of Fr Fossion and his rebuttal to people who say "Father, you have no heart." when he doesn't cry at funerals. And he simply replies to them "You have no faith."

And it brought up the memory of another story about a storm

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror, for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell and in which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest...

perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize?

The King chose the second picture. Do you know why?
"Because," explained the King, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."

'and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus' - Philippians 4:7

Jesus was trying to be that example of peace for the disciples, until they woke Him up. And so often we panic in our own anxieties and fears, that we rush our Lord for an answer. And sometimes He says "Quiet! Be still!" to us, to have faith that He is in control, to surrender.