Cross Over

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: "Let us cross to the other side." Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" 

He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" They were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?" (Mark 4:35-41)

We must cross to the other side – to be brave, take chances and risks – when asked by Jesus to rebuke those people creating winds, waves, and violence.  He asks us to wake up and get off our soft cushions where we are comfortable and ambivalent about that which causes those we know to perish due to hurtful gossip, persecution, and scapegoating.

He asks us to tell those who promote anger, hate, and violence to be quiet and still.  In other words, we are to confront and challenge hatemongers, racists, and outright fools to stop creating squalls and terror breaking over their victims’ boats.

Deacon David Pierce