Thanks to a Storm
Simone Riva - Every storm in life forces us to ask for what we most desire. But to do it alone is not enough; asking Christ to awaken is necessary.
He must have been in his mid-sixties; he came up, and we began to talk. At one point he said: "I belong to the generation that wanted to change the world, and now they have buried their dreams. A look of tenderness and emotion came over me as I saw how reality gives us the desire for the necessary thing: self-change. It is not a matter of having failed, given up, or gone over to the other side, but of realizing that without my changed "self," the rest soon becomes a big bluff. That is why Jesus allows the storm, as the Gospel of Mark tells us this Sunday: "There was a great storm, and the waves were pouring into the boat so that it was already full. He was lying in the stern, on a cushion, and was sleeping."
All the conditions are there for each person to emerge with the whole truth of themselves. This is often the case in life: only when we face a great challenge can we see what we are attached to. The disciples come out: "Master, do you not care that we are lost?" In one sentence, they have concentrated all their fears of being abandoned and finished. They have already decided that there is no escape and that the storm can only lead to evil. In addition, they suspect that Christ is no longer interested in their fate.
Faced with this test, they reveal the fragility of their position, ready to question everything they had seen happen with Jesus up to that day. The Master awakens, silences nature, and then provokes them: "Why are you afraid? Have you not yet faith?"
What is lacking is not good weather, calm waters, and positive destiny, but their faith. Struck to the core, they have to admit once again that the mystery of this man is yet to be discovered: "They were seized with great fear and said to one another, 'Who then is this man that even the wind and the sea obey him?'" All because of a storm.
St. Augustine comments: "When a temptation arises, it is like the wind; you are agitated, there is a storm. Awake Christ: He speaks to you. Who is he that even the wind and the waves obey him? Who is he to whom the sea obeys? The sea is His, and He Himself created it. Everything was made by Him. You rather imitate the winds and the sea: obey the Creator. Does the sea listen to the command of Christ and you are deaf? The sea hears, and the wind stops, and you still blow? How is it? Talking, acting, scheming, deceiving: what else is it but to continue to blow and not to yield to Christ's command? Try not to let the waves beat you down in the turmoil of your heart. But since we are men, if the wind stimulates us [to evil] and arouses our soul's evil passions, we must not despair. Let us awaken Christ, so that we may cross the sea [of life] calmly and arrive at the homeland.
There comes a time of grace in this obedience, a time of wonder at the gift of His presence, and a time of that peace that never leaves us. And all this, often, thanks to a storm.
Published on ilsussidiario.net. Unrevised translation by the author. Download here.
