Pentecost 5B/Proper 7 (Mark 4:35-41)

Consider this Sunday’s reflection on the gospel lesson as a resource for spiritual exercise, particularly when you face hardships in life.

Think of a boat. This boat is a metaphor for the mind. Jesus and his friends are in this boat. The boat’s path depends on the condition of the sea. It can sail calmly, allowing one to enjoy the breeze and sun. But the sea is not always gentle. The boat can face turbulence when there’s a storm. Jesus and his disciples encounter a great storm. Suddenly, they’re stuck in the boat of “major crises.” The disciples, of course, panic. We panic too when we encounter crises in life.

Now, can you recall how you were breathing during tough moments? Did your breathing feel like a great windstorm, with strong waves beating and swamping the boat of your mind, just like the disciples experienced? When filled with strong emotions, the disciples might have even skipped breathing and become out of breath.

We can easily relate to the disciples’ experiences because we’ve all been there. We have all experienced a great windstorm not just externally affecting us but internally shaking our breathing. The disciples, though terrified, somehow notice something odd in the boat. Jesus is napping in the midst of chaos. They express frustration to him, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” We might judge them for being upset with Jesus, but I would rather give them credit for noticing Jesus' presence. Most people in crisis are unable to detect a sense of calm or peace, but the disciples are at least aware of that peaceful presence, even if it is yet to be awakened.

The peace quietly present in the troubled boat of the mind wakes up and directs the unregulated breath or wind inside the mind, saying, “Peace! Be still!” This peace is the peace of the resurrection, born from the presence of God through death. It reminds us that even in our darkest moments, the presence of divine peace can transform our fear and chaos into calm and trust. The disciples transform their breathing, ceasing the great windstorm and inviting tranquility to the boat of their minds.

This morning’s gospel lesson can be seen as a manual or instruction on how to deal with crises in life. While we cannot entirely control external events, we can manage their turbulent impact on our breathing. Here are the steps to take when faced with crises:
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1. Check your breathing. Ask yourself how you’re breathing.
2. Place yourself in a quiet corner to find the presence of peace somewhere unnoticed in your mind.
3. In that presence of peace, imagine that you see the incarnate peace (or Jesus) in sleep.
4. Awaken in you that peace in sleep and listen to him, uttering to you, “Peace! Be still!”
5. Pay attention to your breathing with self-compassion. Repattern it in a way that is energizing, soothing, and healing. You must take some time to calm yourself down.
6. Draw as much strength as you can from the presence of God.
7. Return to the crisis with a renewed mind of wisdom, resilience, and courage.