All of us have experienced storms in our lives at some point. Jackson Graham, SJ, meditates on how Jesus invites us, during these storms, to a deeper calling to faithfulness. Based on the Gospel readings for the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time.
If you’ve ever experienced a severe storm, you know that they can be overwhelming. The wind is whipping, the sky is dark, and raindrops feel like pellets hitting you sharply.
Often in these moments, our thoughts turn to the end of the storm. And we find comfort in knowing that the storm will pass, and the calm will return.
Of course, we know from reading the gospel that there are many times when our Lord does calm the storm, and allows it to pass away
However, what’s notable in today’s Gospel is Jesus’ invitation to a deeper way of following him, a way to find the calm in the storm rather than after it.
The faith that Jesus invites us to is not mere optimism that storms will pass, but hope that even amidst the storm Christ is there walking with us, inviting us quite miraculously to stay afloat, to stay strong, and even to walk on the water
When Storms Come In Our Lives, of course, we pray that they may pass, but let’s also consider the deeper calling to walk on the water to find Christ, our refuge, who is the calm in the storm.