1/31/2026 (Saturday) Today’s Gospel reading: Mark 4:35-41

35 On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.”
36 Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him.
37 A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.
38 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?”
39 He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm.
40 Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”
41 They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey

1/31/2026 (Saturday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Mark 4:35-41

Life has a way of changing suddenly. One moment, everything feels calm and familiar; the next, we find ourselves in the middle of a storm we never expected. The story of Jesus and the disciples crossing the sea reminds us that faith does not exempt us from storms. Even when we are exactly where we are meant to be, difficulties can still rise without warning.

The disciples were experienced fishermen, yet the storm overwhelmed them. This detail matters. It tells us that knowledge, skills, and past successes cannot always protect us from fear. In today’s world, storms take many forms including financial pressure, illness, broken relationships, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future. Like the disciples, we may reach a point where our strength is no longer enough, and fear begins to speak louder than faith.

What makes this story striking is that Jesus is present in the boat, even when the storm rages. His presence does not immediately remove the danger, but it does redefine it. Often, our greatest struggle is not the storm itself but the feeling that we are alone in it. This passage reassures us that God is not absent in chaos. Silence does not mean abandonment. Sometimes, faith is tested not by what happens around us, but by how we interpret God’s quiet presence in difficult moments.

When the disciples finally cry out, it reveals something deeply human: fear can distort perspective. In the middle of crisis, it is easy to forget past faithfulness and focus only on the present danger. We do the same today. We forget previous answered prayers, past victories, and moments of grace when fear takes over. Yet this moment becomes a turning point—not because of the storm, but because it exposes the gap between fear and trust.

Jesus calms the storm and challenges the disciples to reflect on their faith. The miracle is not only about power over nature but about restoring peace within hearts. Even today, not every storm outside us is immediately calmed, but faith allows peace to grow within us. Calm hearts lead to clearer decisions, renewed hope, and resilience.

Modern discipleship means learning to trust even when answers are delayed. It means believing that God is present in hospital rooms, silent prayers, crowded cities, and uncertain journeys. Faith is not the absence of fear but the decision to trust despite it.

This story invites us to ask an honest question: Who do we believe is in our boat? When we remember that God journeys with us, storms lose their power to define us. They may still shake us, but they will not destroy us. In the end, storms do not reveal God’s weakness; they reveal His presence—and our invitation to trust more deeply.

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