Gospel Reading for Sunday of proper 7: Year B
Mark 4: 35 to 41
“Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4: 40)
When I was stationed in Saudi Arabia during the Liberation of Kuwait in 1991, Iraqi forces were sending missiles at us. Some time later we found that the scud missiles were not all that they were alleged to be. But my fear of what might happen was real. I walked in the sands of Saudi Arabia everyday praying the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus was with me (us).
There have been other such times in my life of high stress. And I have prayed in those times also. Fear happens. But fear does not have the last word. Our Lord does. However, we must make known to our Lord Jesus what our fears are. I have seen road signs that say, “Faith over Fear.” That is easily said, but fear is real and can consume us if we don’t find Jesus and wake him up to what’s troubling us. Fear may appear at the front of our boat, but we have Jesus resting in the back of our boat. Call Him! He will save us if we call him.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray:
O Lord Jesus, help me daily to step forward in a trusting faith, rather than to the side in an avoiding fear. Sustain in me that abiding and blessed assurance that you are with me at all times, and will be with me through the storms and uncertainties in my life until I have joined you in that heavenly realm where you live and love, forever and ever, Amen.
onewhoponders 