Author: an absurd monk

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “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

I have been working on this Sunday’s gospel reading, Jesus Stills the Storm. Interesting in the context of mission and the original audience of Mark’s gospel. There are forces that try to stop us – I say “try” because Jesus is the ultimate force.

While working on tomorrow night’s study I found this quote from Augustine of Hippo (via Pope Benedict’s “Jesus of Nazareth”):

“When you are insulted, that is the wind. When you are angry, that is the waves. So when the winds blow and the waves surge, the boat is in danger, your heart is in jeopardy, your heart is tossed to and fro. On being insulted, you long to retaliate. But revenge brings another kind of misfortune – shipwreck. Why? Because Christ is asleep in you. What do I mean? I mean you have forgotten Christ. Rouse him, then; remember Christ, let Christ awake within you, give heed to him.… ‘Who is this, that even the winds and sea obey him?’

Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark (Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture), 97.

Allow Jesus to still the storm within because He has all authority. That is a message for me. Revenge is a shipwreck. I need to move on with Jesus. Jesus in me! Silence and solitude to find Jesus again. Please, Lord!!!!

We are born biological beings but we must become existential individuals by accepting responsibility for our actions. This is an application of Nietzsche’s advice to ‘become what you are’. Many people never do acknowledge such responsibility but rather flee their existential individuality into the comfort of the faceless crowd.

Flynn, Thomas. Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction

I have always thought the above is a good definition of existenalism. If not a definition than a great place to start the discussion. I think SK would add “before God” but that is covered by “accepting responsibility for our actions”.

I often flee into the “comfort of the faceless crowd” – I allow others to define me, to give me meaning, to give me purpose. I escape to a mask that others ask me to wear. Because, in the end, it is much easier to let other’s define me than to do the hard work of looking at myself “before God”.

Yet I have a choice – yes or no. Do I allow others to define me or just to describe me? Yes, I am weird and awkward. But those are not failures but superpowers! I need to learn to be an “I” with all the quirks and eccentricities. Because, in the end, Jesus calls me to place my centre in Him – I am by faith an eccentric.

Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:13-16

I was going to write a whole different post this morning – full of gloom and doom. But the above was part of the reading for Morning Prayer. It lifted me and made me think – “Be holy as I am holy” and trust Jesus.

I pray you have a hope filled day with Jesus.

Here is such a definition of truth: the objective uncertainty maintained through appropriation in the most passionate inwardness is truth, the highest truth there is for someone existing.

Kierkegaard: Concluding Unscientific Postscript (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy), 171.

I am pretty sure I have shared this before. I think this hits the heart of what SK is speaking about. And I think it is an important step in discipleship – passionate inwardness.

The difference between an admirer and a follower still remains, no matter where you are. The admirer never makes any true sacrifices. [They] always plays it safe. Though in words, phrases, songs, [they are] inexhaustible about how highly [they] prizes Christ, [they] renounce nothing, give up nothing, will not reconstruct [their] life, will not be what [they] admire, and will not let [their] life express what it is [they] supposedly admire.

Kierkegaard (modified)

I cannot believe I have not shared this quote. I think it is an excellent place to start when looking at the question of the nature of discipleship. I am going to try to collect some quotes from SK on the topic. So here is the first!