The other side of the sea

  As far as I can remember I have always loved the sea and wondered of so many things about it and this could be due to the nature of the surroundings where I practically grew up all my life. During summer, when schools days were over, I used to spend the entire day swimming with my cousins and friends to the point of total exhaustion, sunburn, wrinkled hands and feet, dimmed eyesight due to too much salt water, feet laden with sea urchin and in a few days nearly skinned all over. I have always heard people saying that life is very much like the sea. Being constantly in touch with the reality of the vast and awesome greatness of the sea as part of God's creation, I should say that there is a truth in it. I had the greatest and most unforgettable time of my childhood spent in the leisure and enjoyment of living near the sea. This has lead me, as I grow older to a better appreciation of what it really means. Amen. Hallelujah!

Job 38:1. 8-11

...Who shut within doors the sea, when it burst forth from the womb; 9 when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling bands? 10 When I set limits for it and fastened the bar of its door, 11 and said: Thus far shall you come but no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stilled!

The readings for today is pointing us to the direction of taking the challenge of putting down our sails and get ready to sail with Jesus in the sea of life. Let us not be afraid and dare to embark on this great voyage of life with all confidence and knowledge that God will bring us all to our desired haven. We can never deny the hand of God guiding us through every chapter of our lives. We may also come to a point when we ask ourselves how all the things ever came to be. Behind all the ups and downs, we always find the Lord working through and make everything turn out for the good. Amen. Hallelujah!

Psalm 107:23-24. 25-26. 28-29. 30-31 (1b)

R: Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

23 They who sailed the sea in ships, trading on the deep waters, 24 these saw the works of the LORD and his wonders in the abyss. .. He hushed the storm to a gentle breeze, and the billows of the sea were stilled. (R) 30 They rejoiced that they were calmed, and he brought them to their desired haven.

What is it that God could have done for us that He has not done? I believe that the sacrifice of His only Begotten Son is the ultimate proof and evidence of this great and immeasurable love that He has for all of us. If we truly understand this, who really God is and what He has done then we truly are not far from the Kingdom of God. I learned during our bible study 2 things or criteria for a humble heart. They are both related to the 4 levels of happiness. The 1st level which is L1 is instantaneous and short-lived and eventually results in bitterness, manipulation and deceit since the goal is centered on the "I, me and myself". L2 although a bit longer is also focused on self-gratification thus ends in disappointment too. L3 is definitely longer than L1 and L2 since the focus is not on the self but on "them" It does not seek to control anybody, full of sincerity and joy, it is a ministry to be of help to others thus it gives fulfillment but could also be temporary. L4 is the kind of happiness that is born from "agape", the intentions and motives are all based from the purity of desire to please God alone first and foremost thus it brings forth eternal and everlasting happiness. Why work for something that is short-lived and temporary when we can gain eternal joy. It seems easier said than done since the criteria call for placing the needs of others before our own which is characteristic of L3 and L4 and knowing our proper place in the whole scheme of life. We must realize that L1 and L2 though, bring about happiness are just instantaneous and short-lived usually products of reckless decisions that can only lead to disaster and woe. What is being emphasized by Bro. Willy Santa Maria, the speaker, is that we can attain and experience the kingdom of  God right now even while we are still here on earth. He said why settle for hamburger when we can go for the steak. We should be wise in following the natural order of things since there is a hierarchy of values whether in grace or in sin. We must always treasure that we received the highest form of redeeming grace coming from Jesus and must strive to conform to that standard. Not everyone is fully aware of this truth in today's 2nd reading. They say that what we don't know couldn't hurt us. Therefore we could say that what we know could hurt us and if this is true then we have to take responsibility for what we know about God. It is not enough that we believe in God because even the devil does and we should do better than that. We are ambassadors for Christ and ministers of mercy and His reconciliation. We need to turn away from all our sins and wrong doings and be reconciled to God. Thank and praise God for the sacrament of penance/confession that God instituted. Amen. Hallelujah!

2 Corinthians 5:14-17

Brothers and sisters: The love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh,
yet now we know him so no longer. So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.

The Sea of Galilee has taken on a deeper meaning in my life way back in 2007 when I decided to come here to the US. In Mt. 4: 18 the sea of Galilee is where Jesus' call to the first disciples took place. It is good to recall and look back where our own Galilees are. I can still remember very well my own Sea of Galilee and should always keep in mind and never forget. As we gather all our strength and courage we, too like the disciples should never turn back and go forth to our own Galilees. With this I also recall the bible story in Luke 5 entitled, "The call of Simon (later on named Peter) the Fisherman." It was way back in Feb. 4, 2007, during those times when I was discerning and weighing my decision to come here to the US with my friend Joy. This gospel reading from Luke specifically caught my attention, confirmed and gave me confidence in what I was planning to do and eventually did. Just like Peter who was skeptical at that time I was also feeling so unsure about my decisions then and this phrase really had a great impact on me back then coupled with the priest's homily that went with it. That was like more than 8 years ago now. I feel like God is reminding me again of that scene at the Sea of Galilee (also known as the Sea of Gennesaret) when I, just like Peter decided to respond to God's call in my own personal way. This message has been very persistent and I have been writing and sharing about. The Sea of Galilee is the place where Jesus chose His Apostles and also where the apostles immediately left everything and followed Jesus (Luke 5:10-11). Which reminds me too of that song entitled, "Lord, you have come"  The background setting of this song is biblically based on the gospel stories of the call of Jesus to Peter and the apostles at the Sea of Galilee.  It held a special and deep meaning that touched my heart in an unexplainable way owing to the occasions and incidences that were connected and related to it. But I believe God in His awesome and almighty wisdom, intelligence and knowledge reveals things in stages for the benefit of our limited capacities and understanding. The series of events and daily readings became an eye opener and has given me a better understanding of all the things that have happened since. I realized it is always good to look back, recall and never forget those times in our lives when Jesus was calling us for a certain task and decided to follow and obey. As I develop in myself a broader understanding of the Call at the Sea of Galilee I also realized the need to go across it and experience a higher level of union with God. In the gospel of Luke back then, the situation was different since the Sea of Galilee in that given bible passage was very reassuring since it gave an impression of peace and calm which was very conformed to my situation back in the Philippines before I left for the US. When I finally arrived here in the US and experience life away from my loved ones and encountering the challenges I faced I was able to relate to that gospel in Mark 4:35-41 also at the Sea of Galilee when the disciples were faced by a violent squall and big waves filling up the boat to the brink of causing it to sink. Very much unlike the gospel in Luke when Peter having obeyed and followed to put out into the deep water was rewarded with a miracle, Lk. 5:6-8 “... when they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing... and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking.” Immediately upon arriving the US I was also greeted with a lot of pleasant surprises like passing the NCLEX-RN, getting a hospital petitioner, being able to travel to the East Coast (New York, Michigan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Chicago, Washington DC) for free and winning the grand prize in the Nurse Expo. All these experiences of the disciples in the Sea of Galilee I have noticed that I can personally relate to especially in the manner of the sequence I have encountered them. In both occasions, the disciples having followed and obeyed Jesus in both gospels of Luke and Mark came to this scenario or condition of their boats both in danger of sinking. Although both happened in the Sea of Galilee, as I look at my own life the gospel in Luke which I encountered before I left the Philippines reflected the positive and confirming things that were happening back then just as the disciples having followed and obeyed Jesus' specifically the bible passages at the Sea of Galilee in Luke 5:4-6 "Jesus said to Peter, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master we have worked hard all night and caught nothing  but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this they caught a great number of fish their nets were tearing." On the other hand the gospel in Mark which I encountered when I am already here in the US reflects the trials and difficulties which I can relate to the disciples response to the bidding of Jesus to cross to the other side were greeted by a not so pleasant surprise with a violent squall to the point where the boat was already filled up with water and in the brink of sinking. After having made those decisions in 2007 which eventually brought me to my present situation here in the US, I must say I can somehow relate to how the disciples felt back then. It made me realize that I have also come to a point in my sailing with Jesus in my very personal Sea of Galilee when I have also witnessed violent squalls in my life here in the US and been brought to situations to the point of sinking but have been constantly assured of God's tremendous power. I have witnessed Him pacify the turbulent winds in my life which have left me with a great calm in the midst of the storm.  It is cited that Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee  in today's gospel which reflects the need to go beyond this call of Jesus at the seashore of Galilee. In the same way we are called to respond in our own personal way to Jesus by carefully looking at our own lives as we go through a series of stages and discover the various experiences we had which led us to accepting His call at our own Sea of Galilee, sail with Him across it, not be afraid of the storm that assail us, and even go up with Him to the mountain and witness the amazing and wonderful miracle that only Jesus can give. We should be able to look at the scriptures in different levels and senses. We can say that St. Mark with regards to today's gospel is speaking to us a historical event which did happen at the time of Jesus. Squalls are common in the Sea of Galilee because of the mountains that surround it. It is known for its violent storms, which can come up suddenly and be life-threatening for any on its waters. These tempests are caused by the situation of the lake in the Jordan Rift with steep hills on all sides. The cooler air masses from the surrounding mountains collide with the warm air in the lake’s basin. Winds sometimes funnel through the east-west-oriented valleys in the Galilean hill country and rush down the western hillsides of the lake. The most violent storms, however, are caused by the fierce winds which blow off the Golan Heights from the east. If we are to look in the spiritual sense we are invited to stand in awe and wonder at who is this as spoken of by the disciples in the gospel. He is the mighty God who has in his hands the very depths of the earth. He is God. He said, "Quiet and be still!" These are the same words he commanded to the evil spirit in Mark 1:25, Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!" This is the same command to the destructive power of the storm which is equal to the power of evil to the soul. Unexpected storms that come out of nowhere can be compared to the evil in the heart of man. We all know the destruction brought about by tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes. We look at that and see the absolute devastation and helplessness that people experience. No one can control it. The weatherman would warn the people to just run. We leave and get out of there. We evacuate lest we be destroyed in the presence of the act of nature. We treat the devil in the same way because that’s the power he has here on earth. This is what happens at the level of our souls, it has devastating effects. What does the spiritual weatherman say to us? Run for shelter, get out of there, get away from temptation and stay close to the Lord. How can we look at this in the spiritual sense? It’s like we too are on cold waters and out of nowhere there’s this something that causes destruction and violence in our lives. We can identify it in our interior lives. It comes over us and we cry out for help. There are moments when we say we can’t take it anymore, we’re going down, and all we can do is cry out. We sometimes have this feeling that God does not recognize what’s happening to us. We sometimes ask if God can possibly be asleep. Or does He realize what’s happening. When I have decided to leave the confines of my home country the Philippines and embark on this journey away from the security that I have been for so long a time been accustomed and used to, I did not fully realize that the challenges or storms in my life would bring me to new heights and depths in my personal relationship with God. It made all the difference knowing that Jesus is in the boat with us. God has authority over all creation. We need to recognize who He is. Jesus is there to help us so we don’t perish. God has the power to bring peace in the midst of the chaos in our lives. We have to recognize that He is present in our lives or in our boat. We belong to Him. We always pray the Lord’s prayer that Jesus Himself taught us. We say, “Deliver us from every evil and grant us peace.” We’re the disciples of the Lord in this boat of life. We receive a sense of peace that can only come from God. He is the God of the universe and has the power to protect us from all anxiety and bring us this profound peace.

 Jesus is teaching us to continue trusting and believing that all kinds of storm that are tormenting us and will still come our way are just background effects and all we have to do is focus on the main scene which is Jesus is God, He is in charge and always in control. There is no reason to be terrified if we have faith in God. God does not stop in filling us all with great awe knowing that He is a God whom even the wind and sea obey. God never stops in giving us the inspiration to keep on going and continue the good work He has done for all of us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 4:35-41

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?”