The Old Things Have Passed Away

Dear brothers and sisters,

The Biblical accounts of miracles and healing are always challenging our modern worldview, and more importantly, our relationship with God.

As we reflect on the Gospel (Mark 4:35-41) from the twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the miracle of Jesus calming the storm, let us consider a few important points.

FAITH

Faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer does not come easy. Even the evangelist Mark needs to establish a link to emphasise the significance of his miracle story. He connects to the people of the Old Testament and their understanding of God’s salvation for His chosen people. Their unshakeable trust in an all-powerful God who actively intervenes in history. This trust has been built from what the people of Israel experienced and endured throughout their history. Through the Hebrew’s memories, Mark makes the connection with God. In the same way, the prophets and the evangelists constantly reminded people of this link. For us too, these steps back in history are crucial in our understanding of Jesus Christ and his mission as Savior and Redeemer.

Connecting to the Old Testament

In order to better understand Mark, let us take a broad look at some of the historical context of the Old Testament.

First of all, God calls Abraham away from his tribe and family to go out placing only his trust in Him. Then, He accompanies Jacob and his family, who, driven by a great famine, travelled to Egypt. There, they grew in number and importance but subsequently experienced slavery, exploitation, violence and misery. Their cries of suffering reached up to heaven, and God heard them. Then, God chose Moses and revealed Himself to him in the burning bush as the One who is always there for us.

Always and forever.

Through Moses, God led His people out of slavery into freedom. It was only after hardships that Job realised that God walks with him through the darkest days of his life. However, before he realised it, God had to take a seat on the defendant’s bench. With all of the suffering in the world one might ask:

Does God care?

Are these Old Testament experiences really so old?

Don’t we experience some of the same today?

The Storm at Sea

Don’t we too, find ourselves exposed to the “violent squall” and breaking waves of the sea?

I must say, we truly live in the midst of storms and hurricanes that threaten our society and our planet. These storms reach everyone – even those who trust God – like Job. But it is in this powerlessness and abandonment where God ultimately proves to be the rock in the storm. God reveals Himself as the Lord of history. It is on this historical context that the early Christian communities built up their faith. It is on this, that God has come into the world in Jesus Christ, ONCE AND FOR ALL. Jesus teaches, He heals, and He encourages people to trust in God in every storm and in challenging situations.

This evening’s gospel is a declaration of faith, aimed at convincing people of the divine power of Jesus Christ and believing in Him.

“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey.”

Questions to Ponder

Let me ask you this:

Do you want to have a relationship with this Jesus, the crucified Christ, the One who performs miracles in God's name?

Can we accept a God who suffers with us? A God, who not only performs miracles but who leads us on our journey of suffering and forgiveness. Jesus saves the disciples and us from all anguish. Jesus Christ points out that faith is more than miracles.

Dear friends, it sounds promising: if anyone is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation: The old things have passed away, behold, new things have come.

Praise be Jesus Christ! – Now and forever.