Tuesday, June 30, 2009

A Child's faith

The Gospel for the Mass today reminds me of a wonderful story concerning our pre-school. It is the story from the Gospel of St. Matthew (Mt 8:23-27) describing how Jesus calmed the storm at sea.

Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep.They came and woke him, saying,"Lord, save us! We are perishing!"He said to them, "Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?"Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, "What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?"

In reading the Gospel to the children, the Sisters would help them role-play the story. Our 3-year-olds really got into it and before we could prompt him, Joey who had the role of Jesus stood up in the make-believe boat, pointed his finger at the make-believe sea and shouted "stop"!

Jesus can do that for us as well. Sometimes there is a storm inside of us for whatever reason - fear, anxiety, rebellion, confusion. Jesus says to us: "Why are you terrified"? When the emotional and spiritual waves are lapping against our peace of mind, beg Jesus, as the Apostles did, to calm the sea. "Jesus, make all of this turmoil stop!'" If we have faith in Jesus, even if it is just the size of a mustard seed, I believe He will!


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