{"id":23178,"date":"2016-02-26T22:29:31","date_gmt":"2016-02-27T04:29:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/?p=23178"},"modified":"2017-04-27T19:27:34","modified_gmt":"2017-04-27T23:27:34","slug":"resting-in-the-stern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/resting-in-the-stern\/","title":{"rendered":"Resting in the Stern","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u00a0LENTEN RETREAT
\n Day 16<\/p>\n

\"asleepstern_Fotor\"<\/p>\n

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THERE <\/strong>is a reason, brothers and sisters, why I feel Heaven wants to do this Lenten Retreat this year, that up until now, I have not voiced. But I feel this is the moment to speak about it. The reason is that a violent spiritual Storm\u00a0is bearing down all around us. The winds of “change” are blowing hard; the waves of confusion are spilling over the bow; the Barque of Peter is beginning to rock… and in the midst of it, Jesus is inviting you and me to the stern<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Let’s look at the Gospel accounts of that storm that Jesus and the disciples experienced, because I think there is something powerful here to teach us.<\/p>\n

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[Jesus] got into a boat and his disciples followed him\u00a0(Matt 8:23)… they took him with them in the boat, just as he was (Mark 4:36). Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves\u00a0(Matt 8:24), but he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion\u00a0(Mark 4:38). They were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, \u201cMaster, Master, we are perishing!” (Luke 8:23-24). He said to them, \u201cWhy are you terrified, O you of little faith?\u201d\u00a0(Matt 8:26). And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, \u201cPeace! Be still!\u201d And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39). He said to them, \u201cWhy are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Now, the word “storm” in Matthew means literally “earthquake”. In the footnotes of the revised\u00a0New American Bible, it says it is..<\/p>\n

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…a word commonly used in apocalyptic literature for the shaking of the old world when God brings in his kingdom. All the synoptics use it in depicting the events preceding the parousia of the Son of Man (Mt 24:7; Mk 13:8; Lk 21:11). Matthew has introduced it here and in his account of the death and resurrection of Jesus (Mt 27:51\u201354; 28:2)<\/strong>. \u2014NABre, on Matthew 8:24<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I find this footnote stunning, because as long-time readers here know, I received a word from the Lord several years ago that there was a “Great Storm<\/a>” coming, like a hurricane. [1]<\/sup><\/a>cf. The Seven Seals of Revolution<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span>