On that day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to [his disciples], “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

- Mark 4:35-41 (NRSV)

As we find ourselves in the midst of the third wave of the pandemic, perhaps we feel caught in a time warp – at that moment where the disciples tried to wake Christ up, saying “do you not care that we are perishing?”. Christ responds, “have you no faith?” I re-read Pope Francis’ words in Ubi et Orbi (27 March 2020): “Lord, you are calling to us, calling us to faith. Which is not so much believing that you exist, but coming to you and trusting in you.” Pope Francis reminds us that we are all in the boat, in the storm, together. Let us also be reminded that we are in the boat together with Christ. And let us not underestimate Christ.

This is my last newsletter article as your chaplain. I give thanks for the blessing to me of having been chaplain in this community, and I give thanks for you. You remain in my prayers, as I hope I remain in yours.

God our protector, your Son stilled the storm and restored calm:
stand with us through all life’s storms,
and give us courage to protect those who face danger,
that all may know you as their stronghold and hope,
through Jesus Christ our Lord;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

REVD CLAUDIA COUSTAS
CHAPLAIN