Aren’t We in the Same Boat?

This is the first (1st) of the ELECTION SERIES – articles published by White Butterfly in anticipation of the forthcoming elections in May 2022.

NORBERTO C. NAZARENO

This Sunday’s gospel is brief but full of meaning to many of us feeling the Covid 19 pandemic, the economic downturn, the sad state of affairs in government, and the growing anxiety and uncertainty of many for the upcoming elections.

On rereading the gospel of St. Mark 4: 35-41, the first thing that struck me was that it was Jesus himself who said: “Let us cross to the other side.”  I would also think it was more pleasant to travel by sea at night with the cooler evening breeze. But, He was Jesus, Son of the Living God. He should have known that they are heading to a brewing storm.  Why did he not set sail at a better time?  Where not most of his companions, fishermen who would have smelled an incoming storm?  They followed him anyway.

Perhaps this was his way of telling us that through our life’s journey, we definitely will experience storms.  Some may be as bad as the typhoons we had experienced, such as Ondoy and Yolanda. For then, “a violent squall came up, and waves were breaking over the boat so that it was already filling up.”  What can be terrifying than being tossed in the middle of a dark and stormy sea?  And, to think about it, despite our fears and concerns, there he was, the Master, the authority, the miracle worker, the one who ordered to set sail… “in the stern, asleep on a cushion.” 

My wife, Evelyn, would have said:  “Ano ba iyan? ” (What is that?)  All the commotions with water filling up kept him asleep?  They had to wake him up.  Their frustrations came out in what they said:  “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”  ‘Mamamatay na kami;  tinutulugan mo lang kami!’  (We will die. And here you are – sleeping on us.)

I can see what Jesus did as in a movie.  He calmly stood up, probably nonchalantly stretched himself a bit, and “rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!”   ‘Aba!  Ang galit; ang tapang!’  (What! He’s angry; he’s bold!) After rebuking the wind, he rebuked his disciples too and said to them:   “Why are you terrified?  Do you not yet have faith?”  He would have said:  “Ano ba kayo. (What kind of people are you?) Aren’t we in the same boat?  If the boat sinks, I’ll sink with you, hindi ba?” (right?)

We are sorry, Lord Jesus, for our lack of faith!  ‘Magkasama nga pala tayo!’  (We are indeed together.) Your presence is enough for us. We know you who can command even the wind and the sea; you can give orders to the pandemic, more so any ruler, even the devil himself. We should instead exclaim as the disciples did:  “Who then is this whom even wind and the sea obey?”

We should be better off than the disciples as hindsight tells us that this Jesus, who we have been following, who is with us in this storm, is stronger even than death!

Praise God!

PRAYER FOR THE 2022 PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

We implore you, Lord Jesus, to give our Filipino nation a chance to rise up from our misery and suffering and to cope with the pandemic crisis.  Give us, through the coming election, a leader who will take care not of one’s self but of the poor and the needy, one who is God-fearing, who cannot be undermined by greedy, corrupt, and hypocritical politicians. 

Save our nation, which is thirsty for your love and justice.  Through the help of Mother Mary, our mother, and yours.  Amen.