The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”
In today’s gospel, the disciples had a pre-electricity “lightbulb” moment.
They, like Jesus, were probably tired from the schedule they had been keeping as Jesus’ ministry kept them all on the move. Though they had witnessed healings and other miraculous works, they had become accustomed to Jesus’ power. It took something different, something terrifying, and something truly other-worldly and astounding to get their attention and cause them to laser in on who Jesus really was.
Sometimes our lives are like that. We get tired. We become complacent about who God is and we take God’s power and love for granted. We do our thing and we expect that God does God’s thing; we compartmentalize each other’s roles. Sometimes it takes something out of the ordinary, and often frightening, to get our attention and cause us to look a little deeper at who God really is and what role Jesus plays in our lives.
In my own life recently, I had two grandchildren face serious illness within weeks of each other. Having a baby and a teenager suddenly experience severe health issues was a frightening storm that shook our whole family.
While I didn’t think God had been “sleeping,” I was devastated to my core. My perspective shifted and I began to rely on God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – at a deeper level.
Other people – healthcare providers, friends, family, and strangers – offered expertise, compassion, concern, support, and most of all, prayers; our whole family felt uplifted and supported throughout the storm.
Thanks be to God, both youngsters are doing much better. The army of love that assisted, and continues to assist, them and the whole family felt other-worldly and astounding indeed. We truly have experienced the body of Christ at work in our world, the faith in action spoken of by St. Teresa of Avila: “Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours…”
Cindy Murphy McMahon
I am retired after 17 years with Creighton’s University Communications and Marketing office, most recently as associate director of communications. I graduated in journalism from Creighton in the mid-’70s, and the skills I first learned there have provided a fulfilling career, including newspaper reporting, photography and editing; teaching; public relations and marketing; and freelance writing and editing.
A native of Chicago, I met my husband, Tom McMahon, in Omaha and we have been here for most of our married life. We have been blessed with three sons and seven grandchildren, and spending time with my family is my greatest joy.
I am grateful for the opportunity to explore my faith and the Scriptures by writing reflections for Creighton’s Online Ministries, and consider it a blessing and privilege. I enjoy hearing from, and learning from, people who read the reflections.
