Reflection for Saturday January 31 Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest: Mark 4:35-41

Gospel: Mark 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.  

Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still! The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

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Reflection:

Do we carry something in our hearts today that quietly troubles us? Perhaps a worry we cannot name, a burden we have not shared, or a fear we try to hide. We need not be overly anxious, for even these moments can become a test—and a strengthening—of our faith in the Lord. We are gently invited to trust Him more deeply, remembering that He is a faithful God who will never forsake us.

When Jesus allowed His disciples to pass through a violent storm, was He simply testing their faith? In that moment, their fear revealed how fragile their trust still was. Yet Jesus calmed the raging winds and waves, not only to still the storm, but to assure them that He remained in complete control. Even in chaos, His presence was enough.

We, too, will face storms in our lives. Some are loud and visible, while others are silent and hidden deep within our hearts. The question is not whether storms will come, but how we choose to face them. Do we allow these storms to overwhelm us and rob us of peace? Do we let them disrupt our daily lives and weaken our hope? Or do we strive to remain calm, trusting that the Lord is with us even in the fiercest moments?

Faith calls us to choose calm over panic, trust over fear. We can remain steadfast because Jesus is with us—today, tomorrow, and always. We believe that He will take care of the storms we are facing now and those we have yet to encounter.

Oftentimes, we are easily shaken by life’s storms because our faith is still growing. We tend to rely more on ourselves than on God. Yet if we learn to trust the Lord more than our own limited understanding, and if we place our confidence in His infinite wisdom, our hearts will begin to change.

Then we will truly discover how mighty and powerful Jesus is. We will realize that the Good Lord is more than enough to overcome every storm that enters our lives. Thus, we are called to surrender fully, to trust completely, and to rest in the assurance that God is at work—even when the storm is still raging.

When fear rises and faith is tested, will we choose to trust the One who calms the storm—or will we continue to doubt even while He is in our boat? — Marino J. Dasmarinas