Have you met people who do not take accountability for their decisions? They ask many people for answers and opinions. They won’t decide until someone decides for them.

When things get messy because of the consequences of their decision, they blame the person who gave the advice, implying, “This is all your fault. I just followed your advice.”

In today’s Gospel, it was Jesus who decided to “cross to the other side” of the sea. And while they were out sailing, “a violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat.” You can almost feel the fear in their voices as they said, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

Oftentimes, when the storms of life rock our peace and the squalls of everyday living disturb our comfort, we run to God with fear. We complain, “Lord, it was You Who called me here! Why is this happening?” We see the storm, but we forget the fact that our God can calm the storm.

Oh, we of little faith! Let God quiet our hearts, and be still. 

Boggs Burbos (boggsburbos@yahoo.com)

reflect

What has been disturbing your heart recently? Your emotions are valid. Feel it. Hold it. Bring it to God in prayer.

Lord, I humbly ask, calm the storms in my life. Quiet my heart. Grant me the grace to be still.

St. John Bosco, priest, pray for us.

Nathan confronts David about his sin in an innovative way, making David realize how grave it is. All sins are horrific, and we ought to do our best to avoid both minor and major sins. Never allow the devil to have a foothold in our lives. Let us trust God in all things and protect ourselves from the lies of the devil.

¹ The Lord sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him, he said: “Judge this case for me! In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor. ² The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers. ³ But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children. She shared the little food he had and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom. She was like a daughter to him. ⁴ Now, the rich man received a visitor, but he would not take from his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him. Instead he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and made a meal of it for his visitor.” ⁵ David grew very angry with that man and said to him: “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this merits death! ⁶ He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold because he has done this and has had no pity.” ⁷ Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ¹⁰ ‘The sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’ ¹¹ Thus says the Lord: ‘I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight. ¹² You have done this deed in secret, but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, and with the sun looking down.’” ¹³ Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan answered David: “The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin; you shall not die. ¹⁴ But since you have utterly spurned the Lord by this deed, the child born to you must surely die.” ¹⁵ Then Nathan returned to his house. The Lord struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill. ¹⁶ David besought God for the child. He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth. ¹⁷ The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them.  

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 16-17

R: Create a clean heart in me, O God.

¹² A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. ¹³ Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) ¹⁴ Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. ¹⁵ I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you. (R) ¹⁶ Free me from blood guilt, O God, my saving God; then my tongue shall revel in your justice. ¹⁷ O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (R)  

Gospel | Mark 4:35-41

Another miracle of Jesus reveals His power over the elements—nothing is beyond His authority.  As His disciples, we share in this authority when we act in His name and according to His will. Let us remember this as we proclaim the Gospel, so we do not fall into temptation or weaken our message due to a lack of confidence in the truth. Instead, let us stand firm in faith, knowing that Jesus is always faithful. 

Gospel Acclamation

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

³⁵ On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” ³⁶ Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. ³⁷ A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. ³⁸ 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?” ³⁹ He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. ⁴⁰ Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” ⁴¹ They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

Read the Bible in one year! Read ROMANS 5 - 8 today.

In my previous reflections, I mentioned how the boat often symbolizes the Church. Today’s Gospel shows Jesus boarding a boat with His disciples, but they were not alone—other boats followed alongside them. This detail is important; it’s not just about a miracle calming the storm, but about a deeper message of inclusion and community.

Jesus didn’t limit the boat to only His chosen disciples—others were there too. This reminds us that the Church is not an exclusive club for the “chosen few.” Its doors are open to everyone—no membership checks at the entrance. Whether someone is baptized or still exploring the faith, all are welcome to join the journey toward eternal life. Jesus hopes that even those outside the formal Church will find their faith deepened in their own way.

Sometimes, people who aren’t physically in our “boat” are still traveling toward the same shore, following Jesus in their own way. This reflects the Church’s understanding that salvation isn’t limited to Catholics alone. According to the Vatican II document “Lumen Gentium,” those who sincerely seek God with a good heart, even if they don’t know Christ or His Church fully, can still be saved by God’s grace.

This broad vision challenges us to keep an open heart and mind toward others, remembering that Jesus’ grace extends beyond our own community. At the same time, the Church still has a mission to evangelize, to invite others into the fullness of faith and communion with Christ. May we be inspired to open our hearts and welcome many more into this journey of faith. 

Fr. Franz Dizon

reflection questions

Do you welcome those outside your faith community? Do you actively invite others to know Christ? Do you share your faith in ways that invite others aboard our “boat”?

Lord, Your heart longs for all to be saved. Use us as vessels of Your saving grace. Help us to never forget those still outside and warmly bring them into the embrace of Your Church. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________________