The First Proclamation Please read 2 Samuel 12/1-7, 10-17 prayer-fully.
The Gospel Proclamation On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?”
Fix your gaze on Jesus The true man Jesus, the son of Man, truly the Son of God was in the boat with the other men, His disciples. Jesus’ call to get cross leaving a vast crowd in anticipation would have made everyone present there including the disciples to wonder. Here is the one who said “I have come to minister”, now deserting the people. While in the boat too quite heedless of the danger amidst a storm, He is fast asleep quite unconcerned about the other men in the boat. The disciples would have angrily cried out, “Teacher do you not care if we perish?” Jesus too would have read their minds for His words “Peace and be still. Why are you afraid, Have you no faith” convey a mild rebuke. The disciples too were filled with awe and said to one another. “Who then is this man, even the sea and the winds obey.” These words of the disciples too expose their guilt, their inconsistency in faith.
Prayerful Awareness The disciples were the people, who followed Him in faith. There is no doubt about it but as human beings even though with all their experiences with the Lord, still they fall into temptation. In the first proclamation David falls into temptation, but accepting his fall he repents. Similarly the disciples, it is said were filled with awe - in other words they were guilty and were ashamed of themselves for Jesus says to them “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” When the storm arose in the sea they were disturbed and Jesus said “Peace. Be still.” Let us have a look at ourselves in the storms of our lives. Are we also not like those disciples wanting in faith in the Risen Lord and to us too the Lord says “Peace” amidst storms “Be still and know that I am God.”
Prayer Starter Lord Jesus, restore to me the joy of Thy salvation. Uphold me with Thy Holy Spirit. Let me return to Thee in deep faith. Let me sing aloud of Thy deliverance. Lord I am weak. Let me in deep faith cry out to You for it is a contrite and a broken heart that is pleasing to Thee and Thou will not despise. Amen.
