Quiet! Be still!

Powerful!

35 [a]On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd, they took him 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!”[b] The wind ceased and there was great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” 41 [c]They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”-Mark4:35-41

"Let us cross to the other side." Jesus is aware of His mission. He knows if something is accomplished. If He can stay for days in a town, He can leave when it is time to do so. Certain things end. Certain episodes in our life end. We have to acknowledge if something has come to an end. And if we are aware of endings in our life, we should also be aware and open for the brand new beginnings and new chapters in our life.

'Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion... “Quiet! Be still!”' Sometimes this is what we are supposed to do in times of crisis - to sleep and relax in faith that God will help us, to be quiet and be still during rough times, and to say in our difficulties, 'Quiet! Be still!'

Image courtesy: The Bible (History Channel)

Rockstar Status

A true leader is a true servant.

32 They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him. 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles 34 who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.”
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 He replied, “What do you wish [me] to do for you?” 37 They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” 38 [a]Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 They said to him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. 42 [b]Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. 43 But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; 44 whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”-Mark10:32-45

To be a leader, one has to be selfless and a servant of all. S/he does not seek his/her own interests. Sometimes, family and other personal obligations are sacrificed and missed for the sake of service to others. But leadership has certain privileges that cannot be rid of. Leaders are sometimes pampered though they are not asking for it. Leaders are adored. Leaders have a 'following' as they say in social media. James and John surely felt some little privileges just by being with Jesus. If Jesus is a Somebody during His ministry on earth, how much more when He assumes His glorified Self. But Jesus teaches them, His disciples, and also us, that true leadership and discipleship is in the art of following His example. But what of the privileges? If Jesus coped with it and handled it well, He will give us the grace to handle and cope with it as well. The spirit in us must quench the flesh's cravings for such worldly matters.

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Did you forget something?

Stay humble. Stay focus.

1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 [b]saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens[c] [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. 5 [d]All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 [e]They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, 7 greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ 8 [f]As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. 10 Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.-Matthew23:1-12

This is true, very true. This warning of Jesus against the yeast of hypocrisy is not only for the Pharisees of His time, but also for the present religious, government, community, social and world leaders. A true leader is well-meaning and originally is selfless. However, along the way something happens where the leaders must make a decision about where they want to be. Do they want to be the leader of the people, selfless, dedicated, serving? Or, do they want to be a leader for life, living in a life of luxury, always respected, always honored, willing to take the crooked path for ambition? Sad to say, many go in the second category. Salt has lost its saltiness. Leaders lost the very essence why they are in their position, who they are, and what they are supposed to do.

I remember a story (forgive me if I cannot remember the exact location and details). There is a part of the coasts where shipwrecks are frequent. Some people decided to put up a first-aid camp to help the victims of shipwrecks. Then they decided to make the first-aid camp bigger and better by putting in beds, refreshments and lounging areas for the people. Later still, they decided to make the camp into a clubhouse. Then, no more first-aids, no more 'save the people', no more 'care for the people.' One of the original founders broke from this and decided to put up a first-aid camp to save the shipwrecked victims just like before. Along with some other people, it was a success because they are helping and doing what they really want to do - to care, to give shelter. Then they decided to make the first-aid camp bigger and better by putting in beds, refreshments and lounging areas for the people. Later still, they decided to make the camp into a clubhouse. Then, no more first-aids, no more 'save the people', no more 'care for the people.' Jesus is inviting us to be very careful against the yeast of hypocrisy, of ambition, of losing our 'saltiness,' above all, of losing our purpose. He is calling us to live in humility.

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The Leaven

Watch out!

14 They had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 [a]He enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. 17 When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, 19 when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” 20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered [him], “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”-Mark8:14-21

What is the leaven of the Pharisees? What is the leaven of Herod? The leaven of the Pharisees are the ways that one should not imitate. Herod represents the world, and so the leaven of Herod are the worldly ways that one should not imitate. The Pharisees are not bad individuals, perhaps, they lack a few virtues to put it mildly. Herod, despite his wickedness, perhaps has a little ounce of goodness in him. Some of the leaven or the ways of the Pharisees that we should watch out for are: hypocrisy, condemning or judging others, separating ourselves from those who are not our "equal," stubbornness of heart which powers narrow-mindedness. While some of the leaven or the ways of Herod that we should watch out for are: injustice, immorality, greed for temporal goods (wealth, power, ambition and fame), disregard for holiness. The leaven of the Pharisees and Herod can be summarized into a few words only - absence or lack of love. Jesus is constantly inviting us to return to Him by shedding away the old self, and putting on the cloak of His love.

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Jesus heals

We need God's healing.

53 After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. 54 As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. 55 They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.-Mark6:53-56

As I reflected, I remembered a scene in a movie where a religious icon was passing through some sick persons lying on mats. One man was suddenly cured. However, the local physician said that it was just a farce because it was impossible to be cured by a passing religious icon alone. We live in a world that demands proof. Science can give proof about its methods, therefore, is accepted. While miracles came to be, thanks to God's mercy. Since miracles cannot show its methods, not all are convinced about it. "How? Prove it! Prove it!" they say. I consider our lack of faith in God as a kind of ailment that needs healing. We think we can be captain and commander of our own life, but the truth is, we cannot. Though science has answered a lot of questions, still, an abyss of unanswered questions lie in wait.

Image courtesy: artist - abyss

Power Play of the Powerful and the Powerless

What will our response be when He asks?

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”-Luke18:1-8

Take note of the characters. One is a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. As judge, his office naturally gives him power, prestige, honor and fear. The other one is a widow. Women, during that time, are considered second class citizens along with children. And as a widow, she might as well be dead if she did not have a son to look after her. What is strange in the story is how power is being played. A powerful judge is actually afraid of a powerless widow! But what can a widow do? What did she say or do to make the judge fearful? And how come the judge was afraid of her? Does her words bite so much?

The truth is, the parable is not about the power play or the power struggle between the judge and the widow. Rather, Jesus speaks of the power of persistent prayer. If we ask something with all humility, trust and total surrender to God, He will grant it. However, if what we asked for will destroy us or others, God will definitely not grant it. Sometimes, there is a delay before God grants our request. Maybe because we are not ready for it or the time has not yet come for it to happen. And most of the time, God grants our requests including those that we did not ask for, those that are important and trivial in our lives.

But if God grants justice, how come there is much injustice in our world? When somebody caused us much pain, we demand for immediate justice. When wrong is committed against us, we demand for immediate justice. I, I, I, Me, Me, Me. But 'God's ways are not our ways. Nor His thoughts, our thoughts.' says the Psalmist. God, Who is full of love for us His children, thinks also of the welfare of His 'other' children. Yes, God would like to set things right for us. Yes, God would like to ease our pain by giving us the justice that we need. However, it is not as easy as we think being God. Apart from considering our pain, He also considers the pain of the one who committed it. And, all of us is His beloved. God cannot choose one side over the other.

There is a father who really loves his children. He adores them so much. He spoils them, gives them everything. They are the apple of his eyes. One day, Jake - the eldest son - came home with a frog. John - the youngest son - liked the frog so much because it was small, slimy, jumps around and has big eyes. When Jake was asleep, John decided to take the frog. Alas! the frog slid off from his tiny fingers and off it went away. When Jake awoke the next morning, he saw that the frog was not there anymore. He stormed to where poor John was asleep and demanded the frog back. John cries and tells him, "I'm sorry." But Jake was really angry. Going to their father, Jake demanded just punishment for John. As a father who loves his children and does not want to hurt them, what do you think will he do?

I, myself, was a victim of injustice. I still cry sometimes when I remember it. But I believe, justice will be served in the right time and place, and in a manner so far beyond my understanding. One of the biblical figure I reflected upon was Joseph of Jacob's twelve sons. So much injustice was done to him but he chose to forgive. By opening himself to God, he became a savior of his family. God knows how to make things right. God knows how to make crooked lines straight. Jesus is inviting us to trust Him. He knows what is right for us all.

God is Love!

Image courtesy: MMBox Production, Johann Overbeck (Joseph sold to slavery); artists