TGIMMsafe

	EVEN IN A HURRICANE OF FROWNS

The Gospel

LUKE 8:22-25

One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.” So they set sail, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A squall blew over the lake, and they were taking in water and were in danger. They came and woke him saying, “Master, master, we are perishing!” He awakened, rebuked the wind and the waves, and they subsided and there was a calm. Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” But they were filled with awe and amazed and said to one another, “Who then is this, who commands even the winds and the sea, and they obey him?”

Gospelthink: I remind you once again of the importance of having faith in me. Do I show my faith by my actions?

The Media -- "Safe and Sound" (Capital Cities)

"I could lift you up, I could show you what you wanna see and take you where you wanna be. You could be my luck, even if the sky is falling down, I know that we’ll be safe and sound. I could fill your cup. You could be my luck, even in a hurricane of frowns, I know that we’ll be safe and sound. I could show you love in a tidal wave of mystery. You’ll still be standing next to me. You could be my luck. Even if we're six feet underground I know that we'll be safe and sound."

One of the parts of commitment to another involves the ability to provide some sort of safe place where the person can function without stress. Such is the commitment that the duo Capital Cities sings of in their song "Safe and Sound." The man in the relationship promises that even if the sky is falling, even in a hurricane of frowns, even in the most mysterious of moments, until the end of their lives, he will be giving her the safety she needs. It is a necessary part of deeper relationships.

Jesus wanted to establish a deep relationship with his Apostles. Committed to them in a way that was much stronger than any romantic love, he gave them a place where they could understand themselves a little better. The understanding dealt primarily with faith, faith in him as their guide and leader. Jesus always controlled the "storms" that plagued the Apostles in the Gospels, producing a "calm" that enabled his friends to have the safety necessary for them to function.

Providing a space of "calm" is a sign of commitment to another. If one is truly giving of him or herself to another, the person will provide an environment of safety in which the relationship can grow. Parents must provide such an atmosphere for their children if the children are to grow well. Friends will give each other the space each needs to be themselves even as they remain friends. Romantic lovers will always provide the place each needs to be safe and calm even in the midst of the ups and downs of life. Unfortunately, no matter what the relationship, there will always be a "hurricane of frowns" as Capital Cities sings, but the person committed to another will provide safety in every "hurricane."

We do not want to miss the spiritual conclusion here. Since our God is committed to us, one of the signs of the commitment will be a "safety net" that God will provide. God through Jesus knows very well about the storms of life, and God will always be present to the person of faith calming the storms and offering the solace that is necessary to live well.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, one of the signs of your commitment to us is the assurance that we can count on you during our trials in life. Help us learn how to provide a healthy environment for others as you have done for us. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: True commitment to another involves providing a safe environment needed for a happy life.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. We hear the account of Jesus calming the storms a couple times in the Gospels. If we consider the "storms" to be a symbol of the problems of life, in your opinion, what was the most difficult problem for the Apostles?
2. What is the most difficult problem for humankind in today's world? What can be done about it?
3. "Faith" is presented by Jesus as an "answer" for the storms of life. Project: present the teaching of the section on faith in Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 27-43.
4. Text analysis: "You could be my luck." What is the meaning of the sentence?
5. Text analysis: "A hurricane of frowns." What is the meaning of the phrase?
6. Text analysis: "I could show you love in a tidal wave of mystery." What is the meaning of the sentence?
7. How do parents provide a safe environment for their children?
8. What does it mean for a friend to give "space" to another friend?
9. What are some of the "hurricanes" in love relationships?
10. Sometimes it does not feel that God is supplying the "safety net" that we need in life. What should we do at such times?
11. What does the song "Safe and Sound" teach young people?

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike