Over the years I’ve taken several theology classes and on occasion I’ve read a scripture scholar who will say that the belief that Jesus is God is a later development. It’s in John’s gospel because that’s a later gospel, but it’s not in the earlier gospels, the synoptic gospels. In those gospels, Jesus is just human. Brant Pitre would say that’s because they aren’t Jewish and they don’t know the Old Testament, because if they did, they would recognize gospels like the one we just read as a clear indication that Jesus is God. There are several passages in the OT where it says that God alone has the power to calm the raging seas. For example, today’s first reading:

The Lord addressed Job out of the storm and said:
    Who shut within doors the sea,
        when it burst forth from the womb;…

When the disciples first called out to Him, they called Him teacher, but then, who is this?  Jesus is more than a teacher.

He is preparing them to be his apostles and bring the good news of salvation to the whole world, and they are now, for the first time, going into gentile territory. He needs them to be strong in faith, to have total confidence in Him. He has complete authority over everything. Nothing will happen to them that He does not permit, so there is no need for fear.

We see this in the saints. During the 5^th crusade, St. Francis of Assisi crosses into the Muslim camp because he wants to evangelize the Sultan. They meet and the Sultan is so astonished at his boldness and holiness that he invites him to stay a few more days before sending him back with a gift.

I remember watching a video of John Paul II meeting with the communist leader of Poland, General Jaruzelski, and in the meeting it’s the General who looks anxious and John Paul II who is totally calm and confident.

How do they do it?

Well, they live the faith fully, and today I’d like to reflect on 2 elements of that life.

It starts with the big picture. The meaning of life. What’s it all about? Why are we here? I think it’s absolutely essential that we get this, and we consciously embrace it because if we don’t, we’re not going to make it, our culture will pull us down. Karl Rahner, a top theologian of Vatican II said this some 60 years ago. He said the Christian of the 21^st century will be a mystic, or he will cease to be.

I’m going to give a short practical suggestion from St. Francis de Sales that I’m finding very helpful, but first, the meaning of life. For the world, I live for myself, my fulfillment, my happiness.  For the Christian, I live for God, His glory, His kingdom. It’s that simple, and impossible to do without His help.

So, here’s St. Francis de Sales: every morning, ideally before we even leave our room, start with Morning Prayer. He gives 4 steps.

1. Thank God that you’ve been given another day, and if in any way you have offended Him, ask forgiveness.
2. Call to mind that this day has been given to you that you may glorify Him and resolve to live the day to that end.
3. Consider the day that’s ahead of you – what occasions you will have to serve Him, what occasions may be a temptation or difficulty for you and make a fervent resolution to serve Him on every occasion. If you know you’re going to be with a difficult person, how will you love that person. If you have to drive and you have a tough time being patient on the road, how will you be patient. If you’re going to see someone who is ill or in need, how you will help.  
4. Finally, humble yourself before God confessing that on your own you have no hope of carrying out all these good resolutions and desires that you have. Then, “take your heart in your hands, and offer it and all your good intentions to God’s Gracious Majesty, entreating Him to accept them, and strengthen you in His service.”

Then, end the day with an examination. How did I do? Begin and end every day with this.  

The second point is that we have to live it, make it real. Now, I have to just add that this is a both/and situation. We know we need His help and we ask for it, and we make every effort we can to live it. Our Lady at Garabandal Spain (an apparition of the early 1960’s that is not approved but not rejected either, and no one would object to this message) told the 4 girls, the visionaries, that they must come to God with hands full of good works. Later she explained what she meant. She said do your ordinary activities, your chores, your daily work with great love of God and neighbor. It’s an active choice and we can do it whether we’re actively doing something or, we’re in bed suffering offering that to Him. As one small example, When I’m getting frustrated by the traffic I’ll say, Lord, for you, I’m going to drive in a way that pleases you. I’ve seen Joni.  Sometimes she’s hurting, and someone would like to see her, and she’ll choose to see the person and she’ll do it happily, not letting on how she’s feeling. Every day, there are countless opportunities for us to choose God, to choose love.

And, doing this in the ordinary situations in life will prepare us for the storms that come. When Joni was 33, her body fell apart with the Ehlers Danlos. She was largely bed-ridden for 9 months before getting a diagnosis and some help. For 9 months, she was in pain, not knowing what was going on. We went from doctor to doctor trying to get answers. Besides the pain and the worry, her family was not supportive; they thought it was in her head. It was very difficult, but she grew. Joni has a really strong faith

God doesn’t promise comfort, but victory. When He prayed for the disciples at the Last Supper, He said, I don’t pray that you take them out of the world (struggles, difficulties) but that you keep them from the evil one. We will have storms in our life, but we have Jesus. There’s no storm beyond Him, and if we’re living with Him and for Him, when the storms do come, we’ll be at peace, still living with Him and for Him, just like the saints.  

God bless you!